Reading this article on the relative lack of diversity among New Zealand judges has made me wonder why anyone would want to be a judge. I write from the experience of having been a barrister in criminal law.
Do you really want to be a judge?
Consider the working conditions:
Many hours spent sitting down ...
... in a poorly air-conditioned room ...
... probably with no opening windows ...
... full of people none of whom want to be there ...
... not everyone being free of contagious illness ...
... hearing tales of woe and nastiness ...
... listening to lawyers ...
... making predictable submissions ...
... poised to catch you out on any error and appeal your decision ...
... having very limited freedom of choice about what to decide ...
... few sentencing options ...
... having your working hours carefully monitored ...
... so you are forced to work as hard as is physically possible ...
... limited vacation time ...
... even if you think the pay is good, when can you spend it? ...
... letting the best years of your life pass by ...
... making an enormous sacrifice of personal freedom ...
... who is really the prisoner?
And, if you still want to be a judge, what are the obstacles?
... why should you have a better chance with a very good degree, when an ordinary one should be quite enough?
... why should you need the “right” cultural or ethnic background, when people are just people?
... why be at the “top” of the profession, when ordinary lawyers do a lot of good for the community just by helping people with their legal problems?
... but an inability to work hard should be an obstacle ...
... and a lack of judgement should also be an obstacle ...
... and a lack of wisdom should also be an obstacle ...
... and a lack of integrity should also be an obstacle.
