Unlock The Secrets Of Just Law: The Changing Face Of Justice - And Why It Matters To Us All Penned By Helena Kennedy File Format Publication Copy

a book by Helena Kennedy fills one with some degree of trepidation, usually because I always hear that she is the kind of women who refuses to take prisoners in any debate she may enter.
Well that isnt always a bad thing, however it does conjure within me images of what I may unexpectedly find when I do read her work.


However, when I did finally pluck up enough courage to pick up her book, I couldnt have picked a better book to read.
It is not only because I have a passing interest in the British judicial system, but also, I have more than a casual interest in reading unusual headline features laden with thoughtful deliberation and ingenious debates.
This was my first book authored by Kennedy and it certainly left an impression on my mind about the quality of her approach towards such a complex debate.


The book is a relatively relaxed read, and offers numerous antidotes to the law and how it spreads itself across various avenues for social change and how such changes impact on society.
The language and the style in which the book is written helps to follow a step by step process of what the law means, its impact on society and the manner in which society demands changes to the law this is followed by a poorly cognisant group of politicians who attempt to change laws based upon uninformed popular opinion rather than looking at how best to strengthen and process the law justly.
Kennedy debates the importance of valuing innocence under the law and cautions against trendy soundbites where politicians compete for popularity.
She argues that a sudden change in the law to improve the sentencing powers of the courts, can also lend itself to unjust convictions and unfavourable bias against the accused, whether the accused is innocent or guilty will seem of little importance in such circumstances.
The court cry will automatically change from “we have our man” to “we have a man”, To this end, Kennedy interestingly sets outs several areas of discussion where she quite cleverly defines the difference between seeking the truth through the judicial system and balancing inconsistent truths to reach the goal of applying the law honestly and fairly for both the accused and the accuser.
Therefore, the question that arises in my mind, if you can only have only one version of the truth, which should it be

Kennedy covers a spectrum of topics in her work from myths to terrorism, auctioning off the law to ordering the retreat of the human rights legislation.
The topics may be unusual but the themes are steadily applied to reach out and protect the emasculated rights of the people whether

that applies to the Irish troubles or to present day Hijabi suicide bombers.
Kennedy comments on how, by looking through the prism of ones own experiences that our human potency comes from a sense of equality, Justice and impartiality.
In this context, she designs the argument that the purpose of the jury is not to acquit or not the accused but merely for the accuseds peers to judge him or her based upon the life experiences that may have led him or her to commit the criminal act in the first instance.
Therefore, the idea she projects is that the verdict might have implied mitigation which only the juror may understand rather than a senior Court Judge who mostly likely never have experienced an evening without his toast and marmalade.
It is this, Kennedy states, engages the law to be fair and just rather than imbalanced and prejudicial judicial systems.


The work is characterised with an array of correspondingly imaginative outlines that can intrigue and excite the reader into wanting to reach beyond the scope of the book and to delve further into the depths of the judicial system to explore ways to fulfil the functions of the law properly and without the air of bigotry.


A thoroughly good read and highly recommended for post reading discussions on how you see the law and its purpose in your life as an ordinary citizen.
An absolute corker of a book that tells the story of how the Law has been emasculated under New Labour stupid politicians.
My silly words cannot do justice to it as I am too exhausted, People read it folks!
A proper will follow when I get my energy back, Great critique of the New Labour era Brilliant, A must read for all civil liberties campaigners! SO much better than Eve Was Framed much more nuanced and educated Despite this book coming out in, Helena Kennedy's Just Law provides a great recap for information on many of the key and prominent changes to civil liberties that have happened in the UK in recent years, as well as providing a good historical base for why changes have been made and by whom.
I particularly found the chapter on 'Criminalising The Poor' to be still relevant when discussing and drawing conclusions on the current state of sanctions imposed upon benefit claimants, and the chapter called 'The Great Prison Scandal' makes some excellent points on the failings of the prison system.
Acute, questioning, humane and passionately concerned for justice, Helena Kennedy is one of the most powerful voices in legal circles in Britain today.
Here she roundly challenges the record of modern governments over the fundamental values of equality, fairness and respect for human dignity.
She argues that in the last twenty years we have seen a steady erosion of civil liberties, culminating today in extraordinary legislation, which undermines long established freedoms.
Are these moves a crude political response to demands for law and order Or is the relationship between citizens and the state being covertly reframed and redefined.