Judge not that ye be not judged

In other European countries the judiciary has a distinct career path which lawyers can choose to follow at an early age. In Britain judges are still largely recruited from practitioners. At lower levels, increasingly those who want to judge must fill out application forms and submit themselves to a selection process. Some of my younger colleagues have done this successfully and enjoy their judging whether they do it full time or as a part-time diversion from the stresses of practice.

I admire those who can switch from legal practitioner to judge. The difference between the two roles is often underestimated. Though, of course, lawyers acting for clients must be responsible and honourable—solicitors, after all, are officers of the court—partisanship is the essence of advocacy. The judge by contrast has to be balanced, objective, and impartial. Many judges have all these qualities and they manage the transition to the bench seamlessly. Others—and I could mention a few names—seem