Judge Falls Asleep in Court

A trial at Manchester Crown Court had to be halted after the judge fell asleep!

Yes, you did read that right. It’s reported that the judge fell asleep as an alleged rape victim was giving evidence via video-link. The judge in question, Philip Cattan, has understandably declined to comment as the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office looks into the matter.

The trial will be re-listed but former solicitor general Vera Baird said she was shocked over the reports. She said, “It's a pretty personally insulting thing for somebody when you're describing probably the most important event in your life."

"But also what does it say about the state, about judicial governance, about the criminal justice system?"

Cattan is a well-known barrister and has appeared in a number of high-profile cases. Previously, Judge Gabirel Hutton was disciplined in 2002 after he fell asleep during a rape trial.

Blog

• Catalonia - arrest warrants issued for deposed government members
• Clifford Chance’s SPARK Scheme: How can it help you to secure a training contract early on?
• Gender pay gap at the top - women paid around £12,000 less
• Robert Mugabe resigns after a 37 year rule
• "The Gender Pay Gap Is A Continuing Reality"