Keir Monteith KC of the Garden Court Crime Team spoke to Penelope Gibbs and Rob Allen in the latest episode of the Transform Justice Podcast, joined by Abimbola Johnson of Doughty Street Chambers.
Listen below:
Episode 23, 'Can the judiciary become anti-racist?', of the Transform Justice Podcast discussed institutional racism in the criminal justice system and what steps must be taken for the judiciary to become anti-racist.
Speaking on the podcast, Keir stated:
"We need to acknowledge the problem of institutional racism. Seemingly, it's very difficult for those at the top to publicly acknowledge it. Then you get structural change."
"We need anti-racism, to take proactive action in situations where racism is evident, it is particularly important for judges to do that, to lead from the front, to be vocal about it, on the occasions this does happen, it does shine a light."
Keir co-authored the report 'Racial Bias and the Bench' as a University of Manchester Simon Fellow, with Professor Eithne Quinn of the University of Manchester. The report, which draws on a survey of 373 legal professionals, concluded the judiciary is institutionally racist, with 95% of respondents stating that racial bias plays some role in the processes or outcomes of the justice system. Read more here.
