Chief Justice accuses Starmer of politicizing courts as hundreds of prisoners are released early

Keir Starmer appeared to be compared to one of England’s most notorious monarchs by the head of England’s judiciary.

In a pointed intervention, Baroness Carr – the first lady’s chief justice – rejected claims the government deserved credit for jailing those involved in the riots within days of each other over the summer.

She also called for “sustainable and long-term funding” for courts in a speech as more than 1,000 prisoners were released after 40 percent of their sentences to ease prison overcrowding.

In controversial remarks on the separation of powers, she cited the action over the riots as an example of how the “constitutional boundaries” between political and legal matters had been unfairly “blurred,” comparing this to King John, who in 1215 was forced to sign the Magna Carta, which prevented the monarch from placing himself above the law or interfering in the courts and became the cornerstone of fundamental freedoms.

Baroness Carr, who was appointed last October, said in her first speech at Mansion House: “The suggestion that the rapid listing of riot cases in the criminal courts was a result of government action or pressure was a false constitutional representation.”

The listing of court cases is “a judicial task – it cannot be otherwise”.

She continued: “Just think of King John…”

“Magna Carta” came about because he interfered with the schedule of hearings for his own benefit. Because of this, he was forced to agree not to “delay or deny” justice.

During King John’s reign, some of the accused were allowed to “buy” a favorable court verdict, while other wrongfully accused were released in exchange for a donation to the king’s treasury.

To prevent this, the Magna Carta clause referred to by Baroness Carr, which stated that justice should not be delayed or denied, was inserted.

In the immediate aftermath of the summer riots, Sir Keir was praised for his response to the crisis. Hundreds of criminals were immediately brought to justice and many were sentenced to prison.

Sir Keir said at the time: “Let there be no doubt: those who took part in this violence will face the full force of the law.”

“The police will make arrests. Individuals are taken into custody. Charges are being filed. And beliefs will follow. I guarantee you will regret being involved in this disruption.”

He praised the criminal justice system’s “robust and rapid” response and said rioters would be convicted within days.

“This should send a strong message to everyone involved – you will likely be treated within a week,” he added.

Baroness Carr, the first woman to head the judiciary, a post that dates back almost 800 years, said it was vital to protect the rule of law first established by Magna Carta.

She also said that courts must have sufficient resources to function properly.

She claimed a judge, whom she did not name, was forced to climb onto the roof of a leaky courthouse to fix the problem himself.

Courts must be “appropriate places for the work of the judiciary and legal staff”. “We cannot continue to allow judges (as I understand it) to take it upon themselves to climb onto the roof of a courthouse to unclog a clogged gutter that has caused a leak.”

“We have a justice system that is almost taken for granted and the envy of the world,” she added, speaking at the annual event in London on Tuesday.

“We need digitalization, we need to make appropriate use of the power of AI, we need modern, flexible courtrooms and IT systems and experienced staff to maintain our position.”

She drove the point home, telling the judges invited by the Mayor of the City of London that an effective justice system is a benefit for British democracy, its citizens and businesses.

“The point is essentially simple: the cost of justice is not the same as its value,” she said. “And its value to individuals, the economy and society as a whole goes far beyond the numbers.

“Investments in the courts and tribunals pay off big. A future without them comes at a price.”