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Margaret Thompson's avatar

We are called to stand together in support when needed and Physical and Spiritual support are both equally important at this time. I hope the hearing room tomorrow is spacious. ❤️

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SteveBC's avatar

Martin, I don't understand this: “The MOJ does not hold any information in the scope of your request. This is because we are not the appropriate authority on this matter.” How could they not be the appropriate authority on this matter? If they aren't, then which organization could possibly be the appropriate authority? Here in the US we say, "You can't tell the players without a scorecard." Who are the possible players in this convoluted mess of various organizations at various levels, and which of them has appropriate authority for what responsibilities? Is the MOJ actually the appropriate authority and know this and are trying to push away potential liability? Or are the players so numerous and so poorly defined as to their individual authorities and responsibilities that even the MOJ doesn't know which organization (even themselves) actually is the authority for this?

Here in the US, the Supreme Court is defined in the Constitution, but it is the Congress which is responsible for setting up and monitoring the lower courts, the responsibility of the President to nominate people to be judges in that system, and the responsibility of the Congress to impeach and remove corrupt judges. It's round-about but relatively clear, yet even so, many of these have shirked those defined responsibilities for political reasons recently. Our Justice Department has nothing to do with this structure but rather is charged with enforcing the law using this structure of courts and judges.

The use of the term "Ministry of Justice" for the UK can confuse US folks, because it sounds like our term covering the "Justice Department" which has nothing to do with the Judicial System per se. So can you put together a "scorecard" that defines the UK judicial structure for us ignorant rubes in the US so we can follow the players and understand you when you FOI some part of that system for specific information - and don't get that information when you should? Which are confused, which improperly defined, which acting outside of any remit, which avoiding/evading responsibility, which pushing away liabilities, etc.?

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