The Courts and the People: Friend or Foe?

This book brings together the essays presented at the Putney Debates 2019. It examines critically, and from varying perspectives, the role and working of the courts both in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

Are the courts our friend or our foe?

This book has three parts:
Part I considers the case for judicial independence
Part II looks at the question 'Is judicial independence under threat?'
Part III reflects on whether judicial independence be defended and protected.

Prompted by the constitutional crisis following the referendum of 2016, the Foundation for Law Justice and Society convened the second Putney Debates. Now convened on an annual basis, they provide a forum each year for the discussion of matters of constitutional importance. The original Putney Debates were held in St Mary’s Church, Putney in 1647. The Civil War had been won, the King was held prisoner, the New Model Army was in control. In late October of that year, the weekly meeting of the High Council of the New Model Army, under the chairmanship of Oliver Cromwell, together with several civilians, turned into a debate about the constitution. This is perhaps the only occasion in modern history that a constitutional convention has been held on the English constitution.