UK Judges Face Crisis as Workload, Safety Concerns, and Political Criticism Mount
A survey reveals nearly 40% of judges in England and Wales plan to quit within five years, citing extreme pressures, deteriorating conditions, and threats to judicial independence.
- A judicial attitudes survey found that 39% of full-time judges in England and Wales intend to leave their positions within five years, up from 23% a decade ago.
- Key factors driving dissatisfaction include excessive workloads, poor building conditions, reduced administrative support, and stagnant funding for the justice system since austerity cuts in 2010.
- Judges report growing concerns for personal safety, with some receiving death threats and taking extraordinary security measures following public criticism from political leaders.
- Baroness Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, has defended judicial independence, warning that political attacks undermine the rule of law and exacerbate threats against judges and their families.
- The survey also highlighted issues of low morale, with bullying, harassment, and discrimination disproportionately affecting women and ethnic minority judges.
The Times 
The Telegraph 