The Pursuit Of Justice

THE EASY CHARM OF HARRY WOOLF

I liked this book because it has the easy charm and the depth of its subject, Harry Woolf, whose character comes out very clearly in the work, so well structured by Christopher Campbell-Holt.

And I liked Lord Woolf when I met him some years ago at a prize-giving at the University of London, and I can see much of his personal motivation and thought shining though in this excellent set of essays which all law students should read before their exams.

The layout of the book places his lectures and writings in their context and gives a valuable glimpse into the world of top judges and the tremendous issues which confront them with their work. I do associate Lord Woolf with the Human Rights Act for which he will always be closely linked, and for his strong support for the need to be tough on the causes of crime itself. And I will forever thank him for the Civil Procedure Rules which will be his legacy

I came away from reading the essays with the view that his pursuit of justice is based on the need for long term policies which are constructive with solutions to sentencing inflation and prison overcrowding, the responsibility for which has to be laid at the politicians' doorstep.

Woolf has talked about a residual power concerning human rights 'which may not need to be an intrusion' when thinking about such issues, and it is his balance in the pursuit of justice in areas such as this which shines throughout the book.

It is a great read for the budding jurisprudent and legal philosopher.