JUSTICE FOR JERSEY

Time to let your voice be heard

A PUBLIC PROTEST
SATURDAY 4TH JULY
12.00 NOON
PEOPLES PARK

Have you ever been let down by Jersey lawyers?

Charged too much – for incompetent service?

Have you ever had to call upon legal aid - only to find the standard of representation provided to you abysmal?

Have you been the victim of a crime – only to find the standards of Jersey’s prosecution service hopeless?

Have you had to go to court in civil proceedings – and found the standard of the judging to be atrocious?

Do you feel you’ve been failed by the Family Division of Jersey’s courts?

Have you ever got the feeling that those who are “well-connected” have received favourable legal treatment?

Do you ever get the impression that the administration of justice in Jersey is contaminated by politics?

Do you believe that we should be protected by a genuinely objective and impartial judiciary – that has no unhealthy overlap with the States?

Do you believe that the people of Jersey should be able to access an effective and properly funded legal aid system?

Do you believe that the good administration of justice has to be a fundamental feature of any civilised society?

IF YOUR ANSWER TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS ABOVE IS “YES” – THEN COME AND JOIN THE PUBLIC PROTEST

SATURDAY 4TH JULY
12.00 NOON
PEOPLE’S PARK.

Many people will have been dismayed at the failures of Jersey’s prosecution system and its courts to bring child abusers to face justice.

The well-connected – the wealthy – and the powerful seem to get away with their crimes - and their failures to do their duty in protecting children – whilst the victims of these terrible crimes are marginalised and ignored.

It was these considerations which originally motivated the organisers of this public protest movement.

But the more we have explored the issues – the clearer it has become to us that the entire administration of justice in Jersey is hopelessly defective – in many different ways.

It isn’t only abuse survivors who have been failed and betrayed by the Jersey judicial system; people from all walks of life have been let down – in many different ways - time and again.

So whilst initiated by child protection failures, the protest which will be taking place this Saturday will be expressing much broader concerns.

A cross-section of our community will be launching a campaign for genuine, affordable, objective and accessible justice – justice for all – not only the well-connected and the wealthy.

A Protest for Justice on Saturday 4th July 2009 had been planed on behalf of victims of child abuse - both past and present. This protest was in response to the Attorney General’s decision not to prosecute former States employees against whom there is overwhelming evidence that they were responsible for child abuse.

The failure to prosecute has come as a great blow to the victims who will now never see justice. We cannot accept the Attorney General taking to himself the powers to be judge and jury – as well as prosecutor. We believe that it is in the public’s interest that the guilt or innocence of an accused person should be decided by an impartial court – not one person, such as the Attorney General, making the decision - behind closed doors - in his office.

But as we have learned more, spoken with other people, examined the issues in greater detail, and shared experiences – we have come to the conclusion that the administration of justice in Jersey – as presently structured and run – has far greater failings than those which are apparent in the child protection issues.

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that the entire administration of justice in Jersey is defective.

Which is why we have decided that the protest this Saturday will be the beginning of a campaign for the good, affordable and objective administration of justice in Jersey.

Justice for all.

We invite anyone who has personal experiences of the inadequacies of justice in Jersey – in whatever context – to join us this Saturday – where we will begin a campaign for the fair, affordable and impartial rule of law.

We will march to the Royal Square, where one of the protest organisers, Carrie Modral, will address the gathering.

Also saying a few words will be Senator Stuart Syvret – who fully supports our campaign.

SATURDAY, 4TH JULY
12.00 NOON.
PEOPLE’S PARK TO ROYAL SQUARE

PLEASE JOIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2eZtZgrdSc