RIGHT OF APPEAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 771, 21 March 1910, Page 9

RIGHT OF APPEAL.

Sir,—l ask.respectfully of your readers who, by their profession, have the power to suggest to the Government the advisability of malting it law that When a judge of the Supreme Court is sentencing a prisoner to imprisonment, the judgo should inform the prisoner that, if he is dissatisfied with the verdict of the jury, he can apply for leave- to appeal. The English papers record cases whore the prisoner, immediately after sentence, is told by the judge that Ire has the power, to apply to the Appeal Court if he (the -prisoner) is dissatisfied, and has grounds to challenge the verdict. Under our law leave to appeal for a new trial can be sanctioned by the judge, but, hero is the essential point; the judge dees not inform the prisoner.of his privilege The consequence' is that as lawyers outsido fho four centres, and many in that 2imit, do not know the law on the subject, the right of the prisoner are not available for his use. I submit with great respect that a prisoner should have explained to him the rights he can claim under the law.

and, by your kindness, I ask consideration of tho question of thoss in 1 authority, as tho ignorauco of the ordinary lawyer means useless wasto of money instead of the procedure being quite dkar. May 1 ask you to take this important question up?—l am, etc., • . ' A SUFFERER.