Appraising the Adversarial System

Some Views of the Law “The Law is an Ass” To commence legal action is to enter a “bleak house” in which one “abandoned all hope” – Charles Dickens Shakespeare's Hamlet was confronted by delays at law

WA Law Reform Findings WA Law Reform Commission reported in 1999 that the system was… Inefficient Expensive Overly time-consuming and Complex

Adversarial Concerns Procedures reinforce the problems of the adversarial system… Search for the truth is SECONDARY to the manipulation of the rules of the contest so as to win

Adversarial Concerns The assumption that “the truth will emerge as a result to the contest” may be flawed. Assumptions are… Each party has equal knowledge & resources financial resources and expertise are unequal in reality The parties’ themselves will adduce the truth in reality lawyers represent the parties & use expert knowledge to manipulate the rules

Adversarial Problems Thus… A trial becomes a “strategic contest” between highly expert legal representatives for whom winning is more important that disclosing the truth

Alternatives to the Adversarial System The Inquisitorial System… Judge (inquisitor) is responsible for investigation of disputes Inquisitor requests evidence and interviews witnesses as part of pre-trial procedure Inquisitor can determine questions of guilt etc without a formal trial – reducing the need for a formal trial procedure Relaxed rules of evidence allow hearsay etc. “Relevance” is the only criteria as to the admissibility of evidence

Advantages of the Inquisitorial System Better expertise in evidence gathering – in the adversarial system parties will only present evidence that will advantage their case Timely resolution due to ability of inquisitor to compel evidence Reduced manipulation of evidence and rules because parties have little control of proceedings All law is codified – there is almost no equivalent to Common Law developed by judges. This reduces judicial discretion

Judges & Lawyers In the Adversarial System… judges are high status professionals because of their impartiality and law-making ability. Lawyers are very highly paid because they hold expert knowledge necessary for success In the Inquisitorial System… judges are respected because of their central role but they lack the status of judges in adversarial systems. Lawyers have a much less prominent place because the parties don’t present their own case

Adversarial v Inquisitorial The Adversarial system is said to the “Rolls Royce” of legal systems… It is expensive It is based on established tradition and heritage It delivers sound justice according to the principles of natural justice

Adversarial v Inquisitorial The Inquisitorial system is said to be the “Volkswagen” of legal systems… It is cheaper It works adequately in achieving its goals – justice according to the principles of natural justice

References Willmott & Dowse pp 343-344 Aldous Chapter 9 pp 260-281