I have heard it said that, of all the services that a government should provide, only two are essential to a society’s functioning – namely the two that communities can’t do on their own: defence, and a fair and reliable justice system. Everything else, however important, can be provided by individuals, charities, businesses, faith groups and local communities working together.
Without a legal system, no society can function, for nothing is safe – no business, no property, no people. It is a direct recipe for social unrest, anarchy and impoverishment on a huge scale.
Biblical law
Indeed, it is not by chance that the foundational books of the Bible are called The Law. I’m currently following a ‘Bible in a Year’ plan, and have reached now the sections that many people find boring – all the seemingly archaic rules of Exodus and Leviticus. But I find them fascinating. They show a deep concern by the Lord for all the little details of life, of how people should relate to each other, of their accountability, not just to God, but to each other. Some aspects might be considered ‘out-of-date’ in our modern times; for example, we no longer use the death penalty for dangerous criminals, when it is possible for us to lock them away in a secure prison for the safety of others (though there is significant support for the death penalty in certain extreme cases).
They show a deep concern by the Lord for all the little details of life, of how people should relate to each other, of their accountability, not just to God, but to each other.
But one of the reasons many find these sections of the Old Testament boring is because, until recently, the centrality of justice was something that has been so easy for us to overlook in our country, and simply take for granted. People have had an intrinsic trust in its fairness, and for good reason. Key parts of the British legal system have been based on the Bible, as the whole country has, for centuries, had a Christian foundation.
Foundational aspects include Deuteronomy 16:18-19, where it states “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town … and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe…” Deuteronomy 19:15 tells us that “A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” This was in order to prevent malicious witnesses lying to get others into trouble. We also hear that “judges must make a thorough investigation.” Many other texts point to the responsibility citizens have to each other – and of course many of the Ten Commandments remain reflected in today’s law.
Relatively speaking, corruption has been low, and the jury system has been one of the best ways of ensuring cases are fairly considered. Yet now, just as trust in general in the country’s institutions is being shaken to the core, faith in the justice system is also being rocked.
Just as trust in general in the country’s institutions is being shaken to the core, faith in the justice system is also being rocked.
Andrew Malkinson
Two significant cases have shocked many – one a clear case of wrongful conviction, the other, as yet, hotly disputed.
Andrew Malkinson was wrongfully convicted and jailed in 2004 for the rape of a 33-year-old woman in Salford, Greater Manchester. There is indeed a legal procedure for appeals, which is a core part of the system. Yet Malkinson’s appeals to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) got nowhere, as they refused to commission DNA testing and didn’t even look at the police files. If they had, they would have seen that the police withheld crucial evidence of Andrew’s innocence at his trial.
DNA evidence effectively exonerated him only a few years after he was found guilty – yet it took until 2023 for the Court of Appeal to quash his conviction. Malkinson spent 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit – if he had admitted guilt, he could have been released after 6 ½ years.
Lucy Letby
Then we come to one of the most infamous cases in recent medical history – the conviction of Lucy Letby for the murder of multiple babies at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital. In recent months, many voices have been calling for the courts to look again at this case.
Personally, ever since her conviction, and long before doubts began to emerge in the media, I was very concerned that a miscarriage of justice had been committed. Now it transpires that my gut instinct has expert backing, as a review of each of the baby deaths by leading medical experts has concluded that there were no murders at all – just poor care in many incidences (though not everyone agrees). We are yet to find out whether an appeal will be granted by the CCRC – but Andrew Malkinson’s case suggests that they cannot be relied upon.
This week it also transpired that the head of nursing at the Countess of Chester, who had been tasked with supporting Letby emotionally as she was investigated, did not believe she was guilty – and has now said that if she was lying then her acting was worthy of an Oscar.
The whole case has affected many people’s trust on so many levels – even before we can know for sure of Letby’s guilt or innocence.
But this nurse was advised, by her lawyers, no less, to say the opposite. Why were lawyers seeking to persuade someone to lie?
The whole case has affected many people’s trust on so many levels – even before we can know for sure of Letby’s guilt or innocence. Parents of premature infants are becoming more cautious of trusting the staff charged with the care of their precious babies. Many nurses claim to be fearful of being wrongly accused – leaving some to even leave the profession.
People concerned by the guilty verdict find themselves tarnished as ‘conspiracy theorists’ – or their concerns dismissed by others who think that it’s just because they can’t believe that a pretty young blonde nurse could do such a thing – as if it’s racist or sexist to disbelieve the verdict. Trust in the legal system is eroding fast, even by academics, such as statisticians, who see the misuse of statistics in the courts, and medical experts who see their research papers misrepresented.
Two tier justice
Further legal scandals are hitting our headlines – with serious questions being raised about Lord Hermer – Attorney General for England and Wales, and close friend of our Prime Minister, Keir Starmer – about conflicts of interest, with particular regard to compensation payments to Gerry Adams, and the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Even Labour MPs are breaking ranks to raise concerns about his links. In addition, stories are breaking of how human rights lawyers and judges have seemingly been distorting human rights laws to allow foreign criminals to circumvent extradition.
The overt injustices around court sentencing in these cases have caused many an ordinary citizen to totally despair of the UK legal system.
And of course, many have been making claims about ‘two tier justice’, particularly following the Southport riots, when even people simply making ill-judged social media comments were locked up, all-the-while dangerous criminals were being released. The overt injustices around court sentencing in these cases have caused many an ordinary citizen to totally despair of the UK legal system.
One true hope
To get back to the Bible, we see the importance of law not just in the books of the Law, but in the Prophets, too. Amos, in particular, spoke out about this. Indeed, the state of the legal system was probably his main and most consistent target; despite law and order being, in appearances, maintained, he railed against the courts – for turning justice into bitterness, lies being upheld in the court, oppressing the innocent, taking bribes, and depriving the poor of justice. The clear evidence formed a key part to the damning verdict against the northern kingdom of Israel. The punishment was going to be destruction by the Assyrians.
What will happen here in the United Kingdom in the days ahead? I will make no claim. But the lack of trust in our institutions, in our legal system, in our government, will have consequences. Society is fragmenting. David Belz of Kings College London has issued a stark warning that the West as a whole, including Britain, is now facing many of the elements that could lead to a civil war, with society’s cohesiveness failing, not least due to so-called ‘multiculturalism’.
The only true hope for this country is the gospel.
If there is even a risk of this – and there surely is – we must do all we can to be peacemakers – in the truest sense of the word – (which is not always the same as appeasement).
It has long been considered that the revival in Wesley’s time was the one thing that prevented Britain going the same way as revolutionary France. The only true hope for this country is the gospel. Churches are once again seeing their numbers grow, as people are beginning to turn back to God.
Will it be enough? Let us pray, and let us do all we can to share the good news of the gospel – for Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1), truly is our one and only hope.
