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43 Medico-Legal J. 1 (1975)

handle is hein.journals/medlgjr43 and id is 1 raw text is: THE MEDICO-LEGAL JOURNAL Founded 19Ol Vol. 43 1975 Part One EDITORIAL HONOURS THE names of two of our past-presidents appeared in the 1975 New Year s honours list. W. Russell Lawrence, Qc, Senior High Court Master and Queen s Remembrancer, became a Knight Bachelor and Keith Simpson, MD FRCP, Emeritus Professor of Forensic Medicine in the University of London at Guy's Hospital, was appointed Commander of the British Empire. Keith Simpson was President of the Medico-Legal Society in 1961-63 and Sir William 1971-73. We offer them our warm congratulations. CONTEMPT OF COURT The Report of the Committee on Contempt of Court [I974 Cmnd. 5794] was recently published and represents a most valuable survey of the historical origins and purpose and development of the law, and includes a number of conclusions and recommendations. The Committee were appointed in 1971 'to consider whether any changes are required in the law relating to contempt of court'. Since appointment there has been the notable case of the application by the former Attorney-General. against the Sunday Times in respect of an unpublished article in connection with litigation about the drug thalidomide. These proceedings started in the Divisional Court, then went to the Court of Appeal which reversed the previous decision, and ended in the House of Lords which restored it. The Committee not only considered this important case but also certain rulings given by the presiding judge in a recent trial at Leeds (R. v. Poulson and Potinger). Lord Denning, MR in a case in 1970 said: 'The course of justice must not be deflected or interfered with. Those who strike at it strike at the very foun- dations of our society'. In the same case Lord Justice Salmon, as he then was, said: 'The sole purpose of proceedings for contempt is to give our courts the power effectively to protect the rights of the public by ensuring that the administration of justice shall not be obstructed or prevented'. The Committee concluded that there is a need to preserve the principles of the law of contempt, although substantial reforms are necessary on account of modem conditions. The law of contempt has had its lighter moments, for there is the story that an egg was thrown at Vice-Chancellor Malins when he was adjourning his court