The rule of law is essential to the accomplishment of the UN’s sustainable development goal indicators, Lord Justice Gross has said.
The UN goals include the eradication of hunger and poverty, promoting gender equality, sustainable economic growth and combating climate change. Speaking at the J20 conference in Argentina this week, Gross LJ said judicial independence, open and accessible justice and mutual respect between the three branches of the state were essential: ‘Judges do not court public controversy; they are also not, and should not aspire to be “celebrities”… over-reach by the judiciary through, for instance, judges entering into the political arena… cannot but draw the judiciary into disrepute.’
J20 brought together supreme court presidents and judges from more than 20 countries.
