Monday Message 17.11.25
News Bulletin
There is no Monday Message this week, but we wanted to take the opportunity to mark the news of two recent losses.
Charles Judge
Charles Judge was one of our own. He was a criminal barrister on the South Eastern Circuit for more than 40 years, and a member of 5 Paper Buildings for more than 30 years. He lived in East Anglia and regularly appeared in the courts there, in Ipswich in particular. He was held in great affection by his colleagues at 5PB. They said:
“Charlie epitomised everything that is good about our profession. Whether prosecuting or defending, he was hard-working, conscientious and scrupulously fair. Over the years many pupils and junior tenants benefitted from his calm, friendly and wise advice when faced with seemingly intractable problems; he had seen it all before and was happy to pass on his experience.”
HHJ Martyn Levett DL, the Honorary Recorder of Ipswich and a long time friend, said:
“Charles Judge embodied the very best of the legal profession. His manner was courteous, his advocacy precise, and his character unwavering. Charles brought to each case a wealth of experience and a deep sense of justice. He was not merely a barrister, he was a steward of fairness.”
Baroness Helen Newlove
We also mark the sad loss of Baroness Helen Newlove, the Victim’s Commissioner for England and Wales.
Helen had worked as a legal secretary, at Manchester Magistrates’ Court and for a solicitors’ firm in her home town of Warrington. After the murder of her husband Garry in 2007, she became a dauntless champion of victims’ rights, bringing both her natural empathy for others and great energy to that role. Helen also campaigned against anti-social behaviour.
Helen was appointed a life peer in 2010. She served two terms as Victims’ Commissioner, and in that role secured significant reforms to victims’ rights in the criminal justice and parole systems.
Helen has left a significant legacy. Our condolences to Helen and Garry’s daughters Zoe, Danielle and Amy, and to Helen’s second husband Paul.
CPS Consultation: Guidance on “gang” related offences and musical expression in evidence
The CBA is preparing a response to the CPS Consultation on “gang”-related offences guidance and the use of musical expression in evidence, and we are keen to hear from practitioners with relevant professional experience. More details on the consultation can be found here.
If your work has involved the interpretation, challenge, or presentation of musical expression or “gang-related” evidence in the criminal justice system, we would welcome your insights. Please contact our Secretary, Chloë Ashley([email protected]) who is coordinating contributions, for further information or to discuss how you might become involved.
Youth Practitioners’ Association committee
The YPAC is hosting an event on 26th November 2025 about trauma-informed representation of children in the police station and courts. It is open to all practitioners, and there will be a session specifically geared towards barristers, as we know that what happens in the police station has a major impact on what happens in court!
Details of the event are linked here.
Witness Preparation & Pre-Trial Support
The London Victims’ Commissioner’s report on Witness Preparation & Pre-Trial Support has now been published online and is available here.
and finally but by no means least, are you missing a wig tin?
On Tuesday at the CACD a member of the Bar picked up someone’s wig tin by mistake (black, leather – Stanley Ley). It’s got all their bands in together with £40 (2x £10 and 1x £20). The member who picked this up in error is keen to send it back to the owner, if this wig tin is yours, please contact Aaron and we will arrange to have it sent back to you.
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