Combining courts: could it affect clients' views about justice?

Watching the old court buildings in London disappear makes me feel sad and nostalgic. West London County Court, an old stamping ground of mine, went many years ago. It remains empty and looks sad, despite
it being a beautiful building.

The new building, just off Hammersmith roundabout, is a shared facility, combining the county court and magistrates’ court. There was no consultation about that and the new buildings appeared out of nowhere.

And there are issues. Not
least the claimants in civil proceedings being caught
up with a large number of dodgy-looking defendants in criminal proceedings. Don’t
get me wrong, these are all innocent people until proven guilty, but should we dispense justice in this way?

Some of my clients have
found it difficult to go through the airport-like security, waiting in line with a bunch of ‘lads in hoodies’ and some of last night’s ‘drunk and disorderlies’, when,
in fact, they are pursuing a legitimate civil claim.

This new building is, however, all singing and dancing and I took my sons to a family open day when it launched. They were intrigued by the cells. “Why are the ceilings so high?” they enquired. “To stop the inmate hanging himself,” was my grim response. On the positive side, there are good meeting rooms and places to buy refreshments.

You may remember the old Westminster County Court on St Martin’s Lane. Again, an elegant building, now sadly converted into a themed restaurant.

The court combined with Bloomsbury County Court to become the Central London County Court, which was set over two sites just off Marylebone Road, with circuit judges in one part of the building and district judges in another. It was always a bit hit and miss whether a client would make it to the correct building.

Now Central London County Court is moving to the Thomas More Building at the High Court. Not such a bad building, with some rather nifty court rooms, but perhaps more difficult
to locate.

My recollection of finding it involved walking the length of the Royal Courts of Justice then winding my way round the
rear of the courts. Some of my possession-action clients may struggle to arrive on time.

Will clients find the sight of the Royal Courts of Justice a little intimidating? Does justice have
to be dispensed from here?

Obviously, some buildings are
not fit for purpose, such as the old Divorce Registry in Somerset House, now long gone and probably a good thing too.

I do not have happy memories of the long, winding corridors, complete absence of meeting rooms or, indeed, facilities. Although, to be fair, one district judge did used to sit with his Jack Russell at his feet, which I thought was a good thing. It would have been nice if Cosmo had met him.

I suppose, in time, justice will be dispensed by computers sitting in the cloud. For now,
we have to deal with the
cards we have been dealt. SJ

Russell Conway is senior partner at Oliver Fisher