Editorial: Priority

The judiciary is obliged not to follow what is called the “common public sense of justice”.

It has a duty to act without external influence even if society vehemently supports the innocence or (even more so) the guilt of an individual.

Yet there are times when the judiciary is obliged to swiftly adjudicate cases that have rocked public opinion and concern the public interest and time is of the essence.

The decision of the Supreme Court of the UK to overturn PM Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue (suspend) Parliament in order to block any decision on Brexit is a prime example.

Such a crisis could not have been allowed to fester and the ruling had to be delivered swiftly in order to lift any pending issues linked to the government’s action.

That means the judiciary cannot be dragged along by events, but when the need arises it must monitor them.

There are a number of major cases in Greece that have reached the Supreme Court and it would be well for such cases to be given priority and not to be put off due to procedural issues raised by the parties to the cases.

Justice must be blind yet there are times when it should also be swift.