recently. Crusading in individual cases is not our primary function nor even one of the main objects contemplated in our foundation. Nevertheless such cases are valuable to us as they make available to us the raw material illustrating areas in which reform of law or procedure may be needed. Only a small number of cases can be selected for follow-up or for full examination as relevant to an important point of principle. From these our support for the Meehan inquiry was originated by the Secretary of Justice and followed up in the branch. In this case public pressure has now successfully led to the grant of an inquiry which we shall watch with interest. The case of the conviction of David Anderson, Q.C., has also been taken as an important example indicating need for reform of summary criminal appeals in Scotland and also illustrating problems of identification evidence with special reference to the Devlin proposals. We continue to press for review of unsatisfactory features of this case. We have concerned ourselves with the matter of summary criminal appeals in Scotland, where such appeals may be taken on points of law alone. There is no appeal on fact from the judge sitting alone and that contrasts sharply with the position in England where such appeal on fact is competent to the extent of an absolute right of retrial in full after conviction by a magistrate. Lord Hailsham commented in the House of Lords that a right of appeal on facts also was ... an absolute necessity for the protection of the subject".
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Material has been submitted to Sheriff Bryden's Working Party on the application of the Devlin proposals to Scotland, where we commented upon identification evidence, and to Lord Thomson's Committee on criminal procedure, where we commented on summary appeals.
Although we do not have members' meetings of a social character, any member who is in a position to undertake any work for JUSTICE is invited to contact Ainslie J. W. Nairn, W. S., 7 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh. Perhaps our main contribution as a branch is to make available to the Council and to any of the committees our own particular view and experience of our separate system of law within the U.K.
Bristol Branch
A.J.W.N.
During the past year the Bristol Branch, of which David Roberts is the Secretary, has held regular discussion meetings. The subjects have included a Bill of Rights, evidence of identification, ethical problems of advocates, the discretion to prosecute and trade unions and the law.
Acknowledgements
The Council would once again like to express its thanks to Messrs. Baker, Rooke and Co. for their services as auditors both to JUSTICE and to the Trust, to Messrs. C. Hoare & Co. for banking services, and to many other individuals and bodies who have gone out of their way to help the Society.
Membership Particulars
Membership of JUSTICE is in five categories. Non-lawyers are wel- comed as associate members and enjoy all the privileges of membership
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