‘Never again’ to anonymity, says top judge

Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice

The government must devise clear rules on running secret trials in future, the top judge in England and Wales has said.

Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice, told the Law Gazette following the collapse of Erol İncedal’s trial that he never wanted to see defendants being tried anonymously in English courts again.

“There ought to be clear guidelines and rules so the prospect of an anonymous defendant is one I would hope we never see again in our courts,” he said when asked whether this possibility could arise again in the future.

He told the publication that courts must ensure ‘at the earliest stage’ that journalists are entitled to make representations and see such material as can be shown so journalists know what the argument is about.

He added: “I passionately believe in open justice, and justice that is not open is not good justice.”