Neutral Citation Number: [2014] EWCA Crim 1480

Case No: 201402304B5

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL (CRIMINAL DIVISION)
ON APPEAL FROM THE CROWN COURT AT DURHAM
His Honour Judge Kelson Q.C.
Arising from Indictment No: T20147076

Royal Courts of Justice
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL

Date: 17/07/2014
Before :

THE PRESIDENT OF THE QUEENS BENCH DIVISION
(SIR BRIAN LEVESON)
MRS JUSTICE PATTERSON D.B.E.
and
SIR RICHARD HENRIQUES
(sitting as a Judge of the Court of Appeal)
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In the matter of:

IAN STUART WEST Appellant


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Mr Bryan Cox Q.C. for the Appellant
Mr Oliver Glasgow as amicus curiae

Hearing date : 12 June 2014
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Approved Judgment


Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


Sir Brian Leveson P :
1. On 25 April 2014, in the Crown Court at Durham, following summary contempt
proceedings, Ian Stuart West, a barrister, was found by His Honour Judge Kelson
Q.C. to be in contempt of court: he was ordered to pay a fine of 500. The alleged
contempt arose out of the his conduct whilst instructed to act as defence counsel at a
preliminary hearing held in the Crown Court on 14 April 2014 in the case R v Ingham.
2. Mr West, represented pro bono by Mr Bryan Cox Q.C. (who similarly represented
him at the contempt hearing) appeals the finding of contempt pursuant to s. 13 of the
Administration of Justice Act 1960. We are grateful for the help that Mr Cox has
provided but, given the issues which arise, the court sought the assistance of an
amicus curiae and we are also grateful to Mr Oliver Glasgow who was instructed by
the Attorney General to act in that capacity: he has dealt with the principles but not
made any submissions on the merits. Although, initially, there was a reporting
restriction in relation to these proceedings so as not to prejudice the hearing of the
criminal case at the centre of this appeal, it no longer bites: we were told that the
defendant, Paul Ingham has subsequently pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
The Facts
3. On the morning of 14 April 2014, a preliminary hearing took place in the case of Mr
Ingham, a postmaster or former postmaster who faced allegations of theft and
perverting the course of justice. He was represented by the appellant. No plea was
due to be entered that day but a timetable was agreed and a trial date set for 10
September 2014.
4. The material available at the hearing for the court (and the defence) consisted of a
police summary running to 7 pages, 12 witness statements totalling 24 pages and a
summary of the police interviews of some 20 pages in length. Having read the
summary of the case, the judge noted that in the final interview, the defendant was
asked about his failure to refer to his wifes heavy indebtedness, the fact that he had
some 2,500 hidden in a laundry basket and his conflicting accounts of how a paper
band dated 17 March 2014 around some of the money could come to be present. In
the circumstances, Judge Kelson determined to exercise the case management powers
available to him pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2013 (CPR).
5. He invited the appellant to indicate whether any issues were likely to arise,
particularly in relation to the admissibility of the interviews. The judge took the view
that the state of the evidence in the case made it the type where active case
management at a preliminary stage could help to progress the case; he subsequently
explained that his practice is often to adjourn preliminary hearings where he feels that
further time focusing on the state of the evidence might, in fact, result in an
admission. It is to be said that it might also cause there to be some other sensible
resolution of the case. It is not suggested that this was not an entirely appropriate
exercise of his responsibilities.
6. There followed a heated exchange between the judge and the appellant as to whether
or not a further conference with the defendant in the case would assist in this matter.
Judge Kelson recommended the appellant take further instructions. The appellant was
of the view that in the circumstances nothing would be gained from a further
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


conference; he had spent time with the defendant that morning and the defendant had
made it clear his intention was to plead not guilty. Nevertheless, although the judge
had said that he was available all day, after further words, he adjourned the case to
that afternoon, asking the appellant to return at 2.15pm, but releasing prosecution
counsel (to be called if required).
7. Having regard to the importance of the principles engaged in this case, it is essential
to set out part of the exchange which followed the setting of the date fixed for trial
within the custody time limit:
MR WEST: Could we have it on the week of the 15
th

September?
JUDGE KELSON: It would be at a risk that week but then
again, having read the interviews in the case, I wonder how
much of a risk. He had something of a difficulty dealing with
the wrap around the 1,000 didnt he?
MR WEST: He says he is not guilty so we will have to work
on the basis that that is right
JUDGE KELSON: Mr West, of course he has pleaded [not]
guilty, not your most helpful observation. To case manage the
case properly, some clue as to the likely issues, even at this
early stage, would be useful. I have deliberately made reference
to the interviews because to the outside observer they appear to
present him with a very substantial problem evidentially, so
what I want from you, a little more helpfully, is there an issue
over the admissibility of the interviews?
MR WEST: The answer is until I see them I do not know.
The issue in the case generally is was he robbed as he says or
did he steal the money as the Crown seem to think.
JUDGE KELSON: You have not got the interview?
MR WEST: I have got brief summaries of them, yes.
JUDGE KELSON: Have you had the chance to go through
them with the defendant so far?
MR WEST: No, I have not.
JUDGE KELSON: I think perhaps you should really, to make
it a useful hearing. What is the point of this hearing if you have
not taken instruction?
MR WEST: I have taken instructions that he is not guilty
8. Pausing at this point, the judge had proceeded with perfect propriety: if case
management is to have any purpose, it is to understand the issues in the case so as the
better to identify how much court time will be needed and, in certain circumstances,
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


to make robust orders to ensure that efficient and effective progress is made: it is quite
clear that there was a full summary of the interview and absolutely no reason why
counsel should not be able to identify whether there was a challenge to admissibility.
It is simply not good enough for counsel simply to assert that a defendant is not guilty
and that is the end of the matter.
9. Judge Kelson effectively made that point. The exchange goes on:
JUDGE KELSON: Of course. Everybody is assumed to be not
guilty, but most people are then confronted
MR WEST: No, no. I am not assuming that. I have actually
discussed it
JUDGE KELSON: by their interviews by any helpful
advocate. You know, I mean, why have you not gone through
the interviews with him so far?
MR WEST: Because he has been produced from Armley
Prison. I have had about 20 minutes in the cells downstairs
JUDGE KELSON: Then have as long as you need.
MR WEST: Sorry?
JUDGE KELSON: Have as long as you need. I am here all
day.
10. It is important to underline that the judge was simply putting the case back so that he
could ascertain what the defence approach to the interviews was likely to be.
Unfortunately, rather than take up the judges invitation and then answer the question
about admissibility, Mr West took a different line. The exchange goes on:
MR WEST: I have had all the time I need. I know that it is
going to be a not guilty trial. I do not need to through the short
summaries of the interviews with him to change that position.
He tells me is not guilty. We need to fix a trial date. I do not
need any more time, thank you.
JUDGE KELSON: Do you not think it is an important part of
preparation for this hearing to go through at least some of the
evidence with a defendant rather than just take his bare
assertion? At what stage
MR WEST: Who is saying I took his bare assertion?
JUDGE KELSON: At what stage were you proposing going
through the evidence with him?
MR WEST: When I have got it.
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


JUDGE KELSON: I will put this case out till later today when
you have conducted a proper conference with your client and
we will revisit the case.
MR WEST: I will decide how long I spend in conference
with him.
JUDGE KELSON: Mr West, we will come back to this case
after two oclock.
MR WEST: We can come back to it whenever you like but I

JUDGE KELSON: Dont be rude, Mr West. That was very
rude. Dont be rude. All right. We will revisit the case at two
oclock. Thank you.
11. In the light of the appellants attitude, it is not perhaps surprising that the judges
approach had then hardened. He was not allowing the case to come back when it was
ready: he was now deferring it. The appellant believed that the judge was making a
coded assertion as to the merits of the defence. More significantly, the judge then
released the prosecution from attendance; Mr Cox submits that this demonstrates that
the deferral was a punitive measure only. On the other hand, the judge made it clear
to the prosecution and the court:
if you can either have your position covered or the court
will contact you but I am not satisfied so far that this is a useful
hearing, that it serves the purpose that these hearings are meant
to serve and accordingly I am going to give the defence the
opportunity to make it a useful hearing. I am not asking them
to put pressure upon their client. I am not asking them to
interfere with his plea. I am asking them to conduct a useful
hearing following a useful conference.
12. The exchange then continued:
MR WEST: Your honour, the solicitor, who is actually my
solicitor, attends with me today.
JUDGE KELSON: Excellent
MR WEST: He cannot stay longer. I am not going to discuss
the evidence in the case
JUDGE KELSON: Two fifteen, Mr West
MR WEST: with my client without a solicitor
JUDGE KELSON: possibly later; in fact probably later,
the longer you go on, but certainly you will be here at 2.15.
MR WEST: You are assuming that.
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


JUDGE KELSON: Mr West, you will be here at 2.15. Now,
mind your manners and sit down. Sit down.
MR WEST: Excuse me.
JUDGE KELSON: Sit down, Mr West, or I will take this
further. Sit down.
MR WEST: In what
JUDGE KELSON: Sit down, Mr West.
MR WEST: I am not used to be spoken to
JUDGE KELSON: You are an impertinent barrister.
MR WEST: I am
JUDGE KELSON: Do as you are told or sit down.
MR WEST: I am apparently
JUDGE KELSON: Sit down. Very good. Mr Ingham, we will
come back to this case.
13. When the defendant (who was in custody) was called up to court, the judge learned
that the appellant had left the building and was believed to have returned to chambers.
The defendant confirmed that the appellant had been to visit him after the mornings
hearing for about five minutes. The judge caused a telephone call to go to the
appellants chambers requiring him to attend the following day at 10.30 am to
conclude matters relating to the hearing, including the defendants status in relation to
bail, and to explain his failure to return after lunch.
14. On 15 April, the appellant, prosecution counsel and the defendant, Mr Ingham,
attended court: the appellant said that he did not make an application for bail because
there was no such application to be made. With regard to the appellants non-
attendance, an exchange between Judge Kelson and the appellant proceeded as
follows:
JUDGE KELSON: The hearing, whether you liked it or not
and obviously you did not, was adjourned over to the afternoon.
MR WEST: Yes. That is what your Honour ordered in the
morning, and I think I made it pretty plain that I did not see any
point in doing that other than
JUDGE KELSON: I appreciate your position but at the end of
the day a judge had ordered the case over into the afternoon.
MR WEST: You are perfectly entitled to order the case to be
put over to the afternoon. Whether I attend any hearing in the
case is a matter for my professional judgment in consultation
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


with the solicitor who instructs me and my lay client and if, as I
perceived it, your Honour was simply adjourning the case over
because you wanted to punish me, not Mr Ingham, for not
having, as you saw it, taken instructions on matters that you
think I should have done, from a position of complete
ignorance you had no idea whether I had taken instructions
on those matters or how long I had spent with the client you

JUDGE KELSON: Well, I have. You told me you had spent
20 minutes with him.
MR WEST: I had. I had spent 20 minutes with him before the
hearing but my solicitor had been down to Armley Prison and
spent an hour with him last week, but you did not trouble to ask
me that.
JUDGE KELSON: Try not to be rude. Just lets be polite, if
we can.
15. The judge referred to the interviews and, in particular, the 1,000 found in a wrapper:
he said that it was this which led to the enquiry whether the appellant had addressed
the interviews with the defendant to be told he had not. Mr West responded:
I said I had not discussed them in detail, your Honour, but all
of that is comprised within the issue of whether or not I was
instructed sufficiently to conduct the hearing and in my
judgment, and it is my judgment that matters, I was. The
defendant indicated clearly both to my solicitor last week and
to me that the case is to be contested, we had set a timetable for
the trial to take place and issues around specific matters of the
evidence are for a later stage when the evidence is served in its
full and proper form, and there was no purpose, as I tried to
make clear, in me going down and having it out with the
defendant about what your Honour wanted me to have it out
with him about why he had on the police summary changed his
account. There was no point in me having that conference.
That is why I did not do it.
16. The appellant added that he had no interest in when the case was to be called on again
because he did not really want to know; he left the building and when he was
contacted said that he was on his way back to chambers.
17. Judge Kelson asked the appellant to prepare a report to explain why he failed to come
back to court the previous afternoon despite being ordered to do so. The appellant
refused, questioning the judges jurisdiction to make the original order. He then went
on to consider whether to make a wasted costs order against the appellant in respect of
the hearing on 14 April, adjourning to allow the appellant to obtain representation. A
hearing date was set for 23 April.
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


18. The appellant then challenged the judge for describing him as impertinent. He said
this:
The qualified privilege that your Honours position attracts
when making comments from the bench is one that requires,
because it is vouchsafed only to those who are thought to be
capable of exercising it responsibly, carries with it the
responsibility not to make off the cuff comments from a
position of ignorance about the way in which advocates and
solicitors who appear in your court conduct themselves. You
have no idea how I conduct my practice or how I had dealt with
Mr Inghams case and yet you were willing to criticise me and
my instructing solicitors on the basis of no evidence
whatsoever and I think I am entitled and do ask for an apology
from your Honour for that (Pause). I see none is to be
forthcoming
19. Judge Kelson concluded the hearing with the remark:
I think you are an impertinent barrister. Yesterday I thought
your behaviour was appalling in open court. I think leaving
court when you were required here in the afternoon was
monstrous. You will receive no apology whatsoever from me.
20. On 17 April 2014, the Judge Kelson caused an e-mail to be sent to the appellant
informing him that the issue of contempt of court, arising from his non-attendance on
Monday afternoon and his refusal to assist the court further in case management
issues, would also be considered at the adjourned costs hearing.
21. Following a delay in receiving the transcripts from 14 and 15 April, the matter came
back before Judge Kelson on 25 April: Mr Cox QC had then been instructed to appear
for the appellant. Prior to dealing with the contempt issue, the judge considered
wasted costs but was persuaded that a wasted costs order was not available to the
court because no costs had actually been incurred: the prosecution had expended none
and the defence are paid one fee for the case irrespective of the number of hearings.
The judge did, however, conclude that costs had been wasted by failure to conduct the
proceedings with reasonable competence or expedition. Accordingly, he made an
observation for the attention of the appropriate authority that, if the matter arose, the
appellant should not be paid at all for his attendance at the hearing on 15 April, to
which he had contributed nothing meaningful.
22. Turning to the issue of contempt, Judge Kelson refused an application that he recuse
himself, finding that it was appropriate for him to hear the matter. He said that the
appellant was far over-stepping the mark in courageously representing this
defendant and referred to Chartwell Estate Agents v Fergies Properties SA & Hyam
Lehrer [2014] EWCA Civ 506 making it clear that he was not motivated by any
desire to flex judicial muscles and believed that courts run more efficiently when
governed by consent. The judge went on:
The old days of keeping ones powder dry and treating the
pre-trial procedure as some sort of game are long gone. Mr
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


West in my view has signally failed to discharge his duty. My
request to discover whether there was to be an issue in respect
of the admissibility of the interviews was, in my view, entirely
reasonable and not (given the extent of the evidence bundle)
premature. I afforded Mr West more than sufficient time to
comply with my request. Mr Wests conduct in refusing to
assist was improper and unreasonable.
23. The judge recognised the validity of Mr Coxs submission that no costs had actually
been incurred and made the observation about payment for attendance to which we
have referred. As for contempt, Mr Cox referred to Archbold 2014 (at para. 28-85)
which noted that failure by a lawyer to co-operate with the court for example by not
attending a hearing, however discourteous, may not necessarily amount to
contempt. Mr Cox submitted that how far it is appropriate to challenge a client with
the evidence and at what stage is also a matter for counsels judgment; in this case,
the only purpose of adjourning was for a further conference. He also argued that the
court had no power to require the attendance of advocates: whether they did so was
between them and their clients: thus, failure to attend could not be a contempt.
24. The judge observed:
The issue is over and above Mr Wests deeply unpleasant style
of advocacy which was highly impertinent and somewhat
confrontational, if not pugnacious. I make allowance for
vigorous advocacy. This was much worse than that. Archbold
28-52 makes it plain that to disobey an order of the court
properly made is a contempt. The orders set out therein are
plainly different but an order was made and defied. The
procedural rules set out in Archbold 28-101 and the following
paragraphs, Part 62 of the Criminal Procedure Rules 2013
assist; Rule 62.5.1(a) applies. I observed obstructive conduct in
the courtroom affecting the proceedings as I have set out. Case
management was deliberately thwarted by Mr West and the
dignity and authority of the court were undermined by his
conscious and deliberate act of defiance in failing to attend
court in the afternoon. Rule 62.5.1(e) may also apply. In any
event, rule 62.9.1(a) applies since Mr Wests said conduct is
captured thereby
I am not at all persuaded that Mr Wests deluded perception
that I was merely trying to punish him rather than trying to
further the administration of case management of this case
should afford him any assistance.
25. In the circumstances, in finding the appellant guilty of contempt and imposing a fine
of 500, the judge made it clear the order that the appellant must attend was designed
to satisfy the judge that appropriate expert advice had been brought to bear on an
obvious area of the preparation of the case. He put it this way:
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The choice was not then his as to whether he attended or not.
His conduct is an assault upon the dignity and the authority of
the court.
26. There then followed a subsidiary issue. The judge was concerned not only that the
appellant had refused to assist the court in respect of case management issues and had
failed to attend court when required to do so, but had also been impertinent and
disrespectful towards the court on the following day; notwithstanding the judges
invitation, he had also failed to prepare a report explaining his conduct for Globe J (a
presiding judge of the circuit), instead he flatly refused to prepare such a document
before giving me a lecture on what he perceived were my powers. When the
appellant again repeated his refusal to comply with that request, the judge referred
that conduct to the Bar Standards Board, identifying himself as making the complaint.
Procedural defects
27. Two of the grounds advanced on behalf of the appellant concern procedural points.
First, Mr Cox argues that Judge Kelson erred in failing to recuse himself from the
contempt proceedings. Porter v Magill [2002] 2 AC 357 makes it clear that, save
where actual bias is established, personal impartiality is to be presumed but the
question whether the material facts give rise to a legitimate fear that the judge might
not have been impartial must be determined on the basis whether a fair minded
observer would consider there to be a real danger of bias. Reflecting the common law,
CPR 62.8(5)(b) provides that the court which conducts the enquiry may include the
same member of the of the court that observed the conduct unless that would be
unfair.
28. It was submitted that the exchange between Judge Kelson and the appellant on 14 and
15 April, in particular the comments Judge Kelson made about the appellant, gave the
appearance of partiality and if, as Judge Kelson acknowledged, it would have been
possible to adjourn the matter to another judge, this was the proper course of action.
We do not agree. There is no doubt that the judge had taken the view that the
appellant had been impertinent to him but it goes far too far to suggest that this view
demonstrates an inability impartially to determine whether the conduct constitutes a
contempt of court: it is not merely the words uttered (which can be read on the
transcript) but also the way in which this exchange occurred that is relevant: only the
judge was in a position to assess that feature. The discretion to deal with contempt
summarily properly remained with the judge: this complaint is rejected.
29. Secondly, Mr Cox submits that the fairness of the contempt hearing was jeopardised
when Judge Kelson made reference in his judgment to authorities and materials (in
particular in relation to the case management and contempt provisions in the CPR)
about which he had not given notice or invited submissions. To the extent that it is
argued that the judge cannot range beyond the authorities cited, the submission goes
too far: it is not an unusual occurrence that judicial research reveals additional
relevant authority and it is a matter of judgment whether, in a particular case, the
parties should be given notice and allowed to address further argument. In this case,
as everyone appreciated, case management was at the core of the judges complaint
and it is remarkable to suggest that reference to the contempt provisions of the CPR
could or should have taken anyone by surprise.
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


30. However, this argument masks a further point which was deliberately not taken by the
appellant (even after we raised it): this concerns the manner in which Judge Kelson
responded to the conduct complained of and, in particular, his adherence to the
contempt provisions of the CPR. Mr Glasgow helpfully sets out the procedure that
should be followed by the Court when confronted with conduct which might amount
to contempt. Where the court observes obstructive, disruptive, insulting or
intimidating conduct affecting the proceedings, CPR 62.5(2) provides that the
court must:
(a) explain, in terms the respondent can understand (with
help, if necessary)
(i) the conduct that is in question,
(ii) that the court can impose imprisonment, or a fine, or
both, for such conduct,
(iii) (where relevant) that the court has power to order the
respondents immediate temporary detention, if in the
courts opinion that is required,
(iv) that the respondent may explain the conduct,
(v) that the respondent may apologise, if he or she so wishes,
and that this may persuade the court to take no further
action, and
(vi) that the respondent may take legal advice; and
(b) allow the respondent a reasonable opportunity to
reflect, take advice, explain and, if he or she so wishes,
apologise.
31. Where the court postpones any enquiry into the conduct of which complaint is made,
CPR 62.7 provides:
(2) The court must arrange for the preparation of a written
statement containing such particulars of the conduct in question
as to make clear what the respondent appears to have done.
(3) The court officer must serve on the respondent
(a) that written statement;
(b) notice of where and when the postponed enquiry will
take place; and
(c) a notice that
(i) reminds the respondent that the court can impose
imprisonment, or a fine, or both, for contempt of court,
and
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(ii) warns the respondent that the court may pursue the
postponed enquiry in the respondents absence, if the
respondent does not attend.
32. Where the court chooses on its own initiative to deal with conduct which it can deal
with as a civil contempt of court, the court is similarly required by CPR 62.9 to
prepare a statement which identifies the respondent, explains the application, contains
the particulars of what is alleged and includes a notice of the courts powers. This must
be served on the respondent together with a notice of where and when the court will
consider the allegation.
33. The procedure Judge Kelson followed at the hearing on 15 April was to ask the
appellant to prepare a report explaining why it was, despite being ordered to attend in
the afternoon, he failed to return. The appellant refused to comply with this request.
Judge Kelson concluded the hearing with a confirmation that the adjourned hearing on
23 April would be addressing the issue of wasted costs, he did not mention contempt
of court at this stage although, on 17 April, the appellant was informed by e-mail that
the judge also wished to consider the issue of contempt of court at the adjourned
hearing. On 25 April, Judge Kelson received submissions on contempt by Mr Cox on
behalf of the appellant.
34. While the appellant was thus made aware in advance of the hearing that contempt of
court would be considered, the notices provided clearly fell short of the procedural
requirements set out in the CPR. In the normal course, compliance with the strict
provisions of the CPR can be waived by the parties or the court; in cases of alleged
contempt, however, we have no doubt that strict observance of the provisions is
essential. As Mr Cox observed, the contempt jurisdiction is a powerful tool which
can directly impact on the liberty of the subject. Compliance with the CPR allows the
charge to be fully formulated and beyond doubt; it provides a structure which forms
the four corners of what is in issue and it avoids the very criticism that Mr Cox did
advance in this case.
35. In the circumstances, given the significance of the jurisdiction of contempt of court,
we have come to the conclusion that this failure of process invalidates the conclusion
that the judge reached. We recognise that it is likely to have made little difference but
we are not prepared to assert that; it is far more important to underline the vital
importance, where issues of contempt arise in circumstances of this nature, of
following the approach laid down by the CPR.
36. Given the importance of the issues and the necessity of clarity, however, we must
analyse the substantive issues and it is to these that we now turn.
Power to direct counsel to attend
37. Mr Cox submits on behalf of the appellant that the Crown Court had no power to
compel or otherwise direct the appellant to attend the adjourned hearing on 14 April.
The appellant relies on the statutory provisions which confer powers to compel the
attendance of the accused, recognisances and witnesses (s. 80-81 Senior Courts Act
1981 and the Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses) Act 1965) and argues
that there is no corresponding provision applicable to legal representatives.
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38. The appellant further submits that the courts case management powers do not extend
to ordering the attendance of the legal representatives for an accused generally, or for
a particular barrister or solicitor to a specified hearing. He submits that whether a
legal representative attends any particular hearing is primarily a matter between that
representative and his client and where the client consents to the representatives
absence, this ought to be sufficient.
39. We profoundly disagree. As Mr Glasgow identifies (and the judge found), Part 3 of
the CPR (at 3.5) makes it clear that the courts case management powers enable a
judge to give any direction and take any step actively to manage a case. If a case
cannot be concluded at any hearing, the court is required to give directions so that it
can be concluded at the next hearing or as soon as possible after that (CPR 3.8). While
the rules do not refer explicitly to a power to require the attendance of appropriate
legal representation, it is clear that this is implied by the broader case management
powers to make directions or orders that will progress the case: participation in case
management is not a private arrangement between the client and the lawyers which
the judge cannot affect. Were it otherwise, a client would be able to permit his lawyer
to absent himself from part of a trial, irrespective of the views of the court.
40. Such a requirement is not (as Mr Cox postulated) at peril of being imprisoned for
contempt. There are many entirely appropriate reasons why a representative will not
be able to attend court: other professional commitments, ill-health, personal tragedy
are but a few and courts regularly make every allowance for these. That is not the
same, however, as wilful and deliberate disobedience of an order of the court as an act
of defiance and so that the position is beyond doubt, we have no doubt whatsoever,
that this is the accurate description of the appellants conduct on this occasion.
41. The contention that the judge had no power to put the case back and that counsels
duty to his client and the court did not then require him to be present (absent good
reason, explained to the judge) is, in our judgment, unarguable. Whether or not the
conduct of the appellant falls within the contempt jurisdiction as a matter of law, that
he showed contempt for the order of the court is clear: neither can this be portrayed as
counsel standing up for his client in the face of improper judicial pressure. The judge
was perfectly entitled to make the enquiry that he did, in the light of what he knew.
Neither was the enquiry difficult for the appellant to answer: he was doubtless well
able to understand the difficulties facing his client and well able to respond by saying
that, on present instructions, there was either no issue as to admissibility or that there
could well be but that the position would only be capable of final clarification when
the full transcript was available. It would also have been appropriate for the court to
understand that the appellant was fully aware of consequences to him of delay.
42. It is particularly worrying therefore, that even before us, the appellant was not
prepared to acknowledge that he had behaved other than impeccably: he was not
discourteous. The highest that Mr Cox put it, on instructions, was that the appellants
style was somewhat laconic and terse. We do not agree: in our view, it was serious
misconduct of a type that is wholly inimical to the proper discharge of his
professional duties and, furthermore, in total disregard of his duty to the court. We
have no doubt that the temperature of the exchange increased as it proceeded: that was
entirely the responsibility of the appellant and, on the following day, to require an
apology of the judge was more than merely impertinent.
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


Contempt of Court
43. The law of contempt is available to provide a fair trial, to ensure compliance with the
courts orders and to protect the proper administration of justice, the sole purpose of
the jurisdiction being to give our courts the power effectively to protect the rights of
the public by ensuring that the administration of justice shall not be obstructed or
prevented (per Salmon LJ in Morris v Crown Office [1970] 2 QB 114 at 129E). At
common law, contempt of court is an act or omission which is calculated to interfere
with the administration of justice (Attorney-General v Times Newspapers Ltd [1992] 1
A.C. 191 HL) and the act or omission complained of is calculated to interfere with the
due administration of justice where there is a real risk, as opposed to a remote
possibility, that prejudice will result: see Attorney-General v Times Newspapers
[1974] AC 273.
44. The requisite intention was set out in Attorney-General v Newspaper Publishing plc
[1988] Ch. 333 in this way (per Lloyd LJ at page 383):
I would therefore hold that the mens rea required in the
present case is an intent to interfere with the course of justice.
As in other branches of the criminal law, that intent may exist,
even though there is no desire to interfere with the course of
justice. Nor need it be the sole intent. It may be inferred, even
though there is no overt proof. The more obvious the
interference with the course of justice, the more readily will the
requisite intent be inferred.
45. Mr Cox refers to two decisions, concerned with non-attendance, relevant to these
issues (but which, save for the note in Archbold do not appear to have been before the
judge). In Izuora v The Queen [1953] AC 327, a barrister was excused attendance at
the delivery of a reserved judgment: when opposing counsel made a similar request,
the court ordered both to attend. The barrister who had been granted permission
failed to appear. He was fined 10 for contempt, but the finding was quashed by the
Privy Council. Having referred to Parashuram Detaram Shamdasani v King-
Emporer [1945] AC 264 in which Lord Goddard made clear (at 270) that the
usefulness of the power to punish for contempt depends on the wisdom and restraint
with which it is exercised Lord Tucker put it this way (at 335):
It is not every act of discourtesy to the court by counsel that
amounts to contempt, nor is conduct which involves a breach
by counsel of his duty to his client necessarily in this category.
In the present case, the appellants conduct was clearly
discourteous, it may have been in breach of rule 11 of Ord 16
and it may, perhaps, have been in dereliction of his duty to his
client, but in their Lordships opinion it cannot properly be
placed over the line that divides mere discourtesy from
contempt.
46. Weston v Central Criminal Courts Administrator [1977] 2 QB 32 concerned a
solicitor who learnt that a case in which he had just been instructed (but not put in
funds), which was not ready for trial, had been listed for the following day. He was
told it was too late to remove it from the list and, having written what was described
as an offensive letter to the court, sent his client alone whereupon the trial was listed
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


for the following Monday. The solicitor was told of the listing by his client and put in
funds but wrote another letter of protest, again sending his client requesting that the
date be fixed by reference to counsels availability on the basis that the case could not
be ready. The judge then ordered the solicitors attendance (the fact being
communicated again by the client) and when he did not appear, issued a bench
warrant. There were clearly many misunderstandings on both sides but when the
solicitor refused to apologise for the letter, he was ordered to pay 200 towards the
costs of the prosecution.
47. The Court of Appeal set aside the order on the basis that there was nothing that the
solicitor had done to interfere with the due administration of justice or to disobey an
order of the court: the discourteous letter did not interfere with the course of justice
in the least. Applying Izuora, he had therefore not crossed the line dividing mere
discourtesy and breach of duty to a client or the court from contempt. Further,
contempt is not punishable by an order to pay costs.
48. As for the failure to attend, Lord Denning MR made it clear (at 43G):
I have no doubt that if a solicitor deliberately fails to attend -
with intent to hinder or delay the hearing, and doing so - he
would be guilty of a contempt of court. He would be interfering
with the course of justice. But in this case the conduct of the
solicitor was not done with intent to hinder or delay the
hearing. So, while the solicitor was in breach of his duty, it
was not a contempt of court. The proper way to deal with it
would be by reporting it to the Law Society.
49. Stephenson LJ put it this way (at 46C):
But not every failure to co-operate, or refusal to assist the
court, is a contempt, and not every dereliction of duty or
discourtesy to the court is a contempt and although I
sympathise with the judge in regarding the appellant as
contumacious, I do not think that the appellants conduct went
so far beyond the limits of non-co-operation or discourtesy as
to harden into contempt of court.
50. For our part, we readily accept that not every failure to co-operate or refusal to attend
court is a contempt; that is very different, however, from saying that failure to co-
operate or refusal to attend court could never be a contempt: it clearly can be. Judge
Kelson found the appellant to be in contempt of court by failing to (a) attend the
adjourned preliminary hearing as directed; and (b) assist with the case management
requests that were made of him. However the judge considered the principal issue to
be the former. We repeat his findings:

Case management was deliberately thwarted by Mr West and
the dignity and authority of the court were undermined by his
conscious and deliberate act of defiance in failing to attend
court in the afternoon.
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


51. We do not have to decide in this case whether the appellant intended by his conduct to
hinder or delay the hearing, given, first, that it would not impact on the date of trial
and, second, that he was clearly far more intent on demonstrating that his view of the
interests of his client was far more important than anything the judge had to say about
the interests of the case. His breathtaking arrogance meant that it is entirely plausible
that he never stopped to think about the impact of his conduct and it is of the very
greatest concern that he still is of that mind. On any showing, his behaviour in failing
to return when ordered to by the judge amounts to a wilful disregard of the authority
of the court worthy of serious sanction.
Conclusion
52. For want of procedural regularity, we allow the appeal and set aside this finding of
contempt. This should not, however, be seen as an endorsement of the appellants
behaviour. On the contrary, we repeat the descriptions which we have used in this
judgment. Mr Wests conduct constituted wilful and deliberate disobedience of an
order of the court as an act of defiance which is serious misconduct of a type that is
wholly inimical to the proper discharge of his professional duties and, furthermore, in
total disregard of his duty to the court. He has shown breathtaking arrogance and his
demand that the judge apologise to him was more than merely impertinent. This
conduct should be considered by the Bar Standards Board to which we direct that a
copy of this judgment should be sent.
53. We have no doubt that this type of incident is extremely rare. Mr Glasgow helpfully
set out the alternative options for the court: these took the form of adverse orders for
costs. The difficulty, however, is that in cases such as this, it is clear that although the
courts time will have been engaged (with consequent costs), the parties are unlikely
to have suffered financially not least because of the way in which public funding is
structured.
54. We recognise that problems surrounding issues of vigorous and effective case
management can arise in different ways. In Director of Public Prosecutions v
Radziwilowicz [2014] EWHC 2283 (Admin), the Divisional Court was concerned
with failures on the part of the prosecutor at a procedural hearing which led to a trial
being brought on and dismissed notwithstanding that there had never been the
slightest intention of that being a trial date. Again, it was difficult, if not impossible,
to identify whether and if so what costs had been wasted. I said:
In truth, the time of the court has been taken up and other
cases delayed. The valuation of that cost and whether it ought
to be recoverable is a matter which ought perhaps to be
considered. An appropriately senior prosecutor could have
been called to court to explain the failure, although that would
only take the prosecutor away from work on other cases. None
of these solutions is ideal and there is a similar problem in
relation to defence failures to comply with judicial directions or
the Rules. All this needs review, for the court does require
mechanisms to ensure that the objectives of the Criminal
Procedure Rules are met and failures adequately admonished
and subject to sanction.
Judgment Approved by the court for handing down. R v West


This unfortunate episode simply provides further evidence of this lacuna.
55. We add one further comment. The preparation by the prosecution of the summary in
this case was truly exemplary and both the prosecution authorities and the court are to
be congratulated for grasping the putting into place of a system that fully addresses
the principles of early disclosure. As we grapple with ways of improving efficiency
so as to ensure that the limited resources available from public funds both for
prosecution and defence are used as effectively as possible, the importance of early
substantive disclosure of the allegation and evidence is critical. It permits the court to
grapple with the real issues in those cases that are to be contested and to dispose of
those that are not, in each case as early as possible. The approach of Judge Kelson
was entirely in keeping with this imperative. On the other hand, the conduct of Mr
West, if it was to become the norm, will cause our present system to collapse for want
of sufficient funding with the risk causing enormous damage and replacement by a
process that imperils many of the hard gained improvements designed with the
interests of justice in mind.