The article reviews the way in which the government-led public service modernisation agenda is affecting courts in England and Wales. The pros and cons associated with each of seven tenets of modernisation are explored and the article then argues for a modernisation programme for the courts that better reflects their distinctive circumstances and conditions, and in particular their independent status under the doctrine of the separation of powers.
Ashworth, A.
(1994) The Criminal Process: An Evaluation Study. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
2.
Ashworth, A.
and M. Hough (1996) `Sentencing and the Climate of Opinion', Criminal Law Review: 776-787.
3.
Burney, E.
(1979) JP, Magistrate, Court and Community. London: Hutchinson.
4.
Clarke, M.
and J.D. Stewart (1997) Handling the Wicked Issues, School of Public Policy Occasional Paper. Birmingham: University of Birmingham.
5.
Davies M.
, H. Croall and J. Tyrer (1995) Criminal Justice: An Introduction to the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales. Harlow: Longman.
6.
Field, S.
and P. Thomas (1994) Justice and Efficiency? The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice. Oxford: Blackwell.
7.
Giddens, A.
(1998) The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press.
8.
Home Office
(1997) Review of Delay in the Criminal Justice System (Narey Report). London: Home Office.
9.
Hughes, O.
(1998) Public Management and Administration: An Introduction, 2nd Edn.Basingstoke: MacMillan Press.
10.
Hyderbrand, W.
(1992) The Rationalisation of Justice. New York: Random House.
11.
James, A.
and J.W. Raine (1998) The New Politics of Criminal Justice. Harlow: Addison Wesley Longman.
12.
Lord Chancellor's Department
(1992) A New Framework for Local Justice. London: Lord Chancellor's Department.
13.
Morgan, R.
(2000) `National Lay and Stipendiary Magistrates' Study', The Magistrate56(4): 106-107.
14.
Newburn, T.
(1985) Crime and Criminal Justice Policy. Harlow: Longman.
15.
Pollitt, C.
(2000) `Is the Emperor in his Underwear? An Analysis of the Impacts of Public Management Reform', Public Management2(2): 181-199.
16.
Raine, J.W.
(1989) Local Justice: Ideals and Realities. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark.
17.
Raine, J.W.
(1994) Ready to Proceed: An Evaluation of Early Administrative Hearings at Bexley Magistrates' Court. London: Home Office.
18.
Raine, J.W.
(1998) `Justice in the Lower Courts', in M. Laffin (ed.) Beyond Bureaucracy? The Professions in the Contemporary Public Sector. Aldershot: Ashgate.
19.
Raine, J.W.
and R. Smith (1990) The Victim and Witness in Court. London: National Association of Victim Support Schemes.