Can a judge speak his mind?
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Categories: Vidocq Unscripted
Tags: Blackburn Cathedral, freedom of speech, Magistrate Austin Malloy, sentencing, UK, vandalism
The youths will be getting mixed messages about authority figures. Clerk should have been more discreet.
An excellent remark, Evie! What kind of example did the clerk set here? These children clearly needed to be taught that such disrespectful and destructive behaviour will not be tolerated. And when they come in to face their punishment they see a clerk taking sides while the clerk should have remained neutral. I am frankly appalled that Magistrate Malloy is facing this investigation. I’d like to know what motivated the clerk to do this.
Thanks again for reading and commenting on my posts! Have a fantastic weekend, my friend! Vidocq
Thank you Vidocq, I think your point about the clerk remaining neutral is a very important one. Taking that the clerk was not there to represent the youths.
It is interesting that two sets of parents had different reactions/views.
It’s easy for anyone to pick out one word (as with the word scum), but the English language is also about the context in which the word is used. If the phrase read – This court is disgusted by the mindless destruction you have caused. Normal people would consider you absolutely despicable. Would it be challenged?
I like to read your posts, you raise good points.
You have a great weekend also Vidocq.
He did not directly call them absolute scum instead referring to ‘normal people’ either to the exclusion or inclusion of himself. Either way, I do believe the clerk has overreacted and perhaps overreached her position.
When admonishing a child it is often useful to remind them of how others may perceive their behaviours. I often find myself saying “please don’t do that because it’s naughty and you are not a naughty person” but if in public I quietly add that people may wrongly think so. Is it not useful to gauge our behaviour against reasonable members of society? He did not say they were absolute scum, simply that they may be seen to be so…hopefully pricking any consciences they may have.. It is laughable that we may act in such a manner but be afforded the right not to be confronted by the image we portray.
You too, Evie. I guess my frustration at this point boils down to this:
1: worse has been said and those judges were not removed so why Malloy?
2: the clerk clearly showed disrespect for the court but nobody mentions that in news paper articles, why?
3: is this a one time incident or was there a tensed relationship between the magistrate and the clerk?
4: if the latter is true, was this the best way to resolve any issues? Clearly here, the answer is “no.”
Should you hear or read anything related to this topic, please alert me. Thanks again! V.
Thank you for stopping by and for taking the time to comment, S!
You raise another excellent point: magistrate Malloy referred to the image others may have of them and how they may be perceived by others based on their actions. And I agree, it often works very well to show to a child (and that still includes teenagers) how they are perceived by others.
Thank you again! Have a great weekend, V.
I would call the clerk absolute scum. Trying to score some points on the social-democratic p.c. agenda, at the expense of the (authority of) the court and freedom of speech. And of course the inquisition follows up, trembling with fear for being accused by just one concerned citizen of not acting in the interest of juvenile scum and the great, appeasing society they pretend to live in or strive to create – against better judgement, as crime and youth-related problems are bigger than ever. But then, the weasels rule, terrorising the silent majority with their ‘moral superiority’ – “Political correctness: evasion masquerading as sensitivity.”
Wonderful to see you again at DCC, Sjefke, and thank you for a very refreshing comment.
I agree. If those kids had Vidocq on the bench they would have gotten a very strong worded lecture that would have stayed in their memories forever. I also agree with Malloy that leaving them to answer to the church members would have been a good idea.
Let me see if I can find out more about the magistrate and his politically correct clerk!
Thanks again, Vidocq