2014年法律年開啓典禮演辭

昨日終審法院首席法官馬道立的2014年法律年開啓典禮演辭，並沒有特別啓示，他再三強調司法獨立、司法程序透明及法治要靠優質的各級法院法官來鞏固。他花了不少篇幅來講法官的任命的四項準則：法律知識、為官性情、言行操守及案件管理能力(knowledge of the law, judicial temperament, propriety of conduct and case management)。跟去年不一樣，他今年沒有特别回應社會對法庭裁決的爭議。

反而是律政司長袁國強對辱罵式的批評法院裁決有所回應，主要是針對早前愛字頭那班小丑的言論，而並非最近終院對新移民到港未滿7年可領綜援而引發社會對法官的批評。袁司長演辭一開始就講司法獨立，再三强調辱罵式批評法官會削弱公眾對司法信心，那並非法官個人榮辱的問題，其中一段這樣講：

Amidst the usually healthy discussion of judicial decisions and judges we had during the past year, one sign of concern is the emergence of abusive attacks. Some have even indicated that they would compile a list of judges whom they considered politically biased and would request their removal. However well-intended their subjective motives might be, such conduct should not be encouraged. As pointed out by the then Chief Justice Andrew Li in his speech delivered at the Opening of the Legal Year in January 2000, when the courts come under unwarranted attack, it is the constitutional responsibility of the Government to explain and defend the fundamental principle of judicial independence. The Department of Justice would have no hesitation to take such steps as may be necessary to defend judicial independence.
袁司長這段説話，不就是跟標少在愛字頭炒法官魷魚一文批評這班愛字頭的狐羣狗黨的言行一樣嗎？可惜袁司長只留在空口講的階段，而沒有履行憲法上的責任，對愛字頭這夥小丑提出檢控。我拭目以待，看律政司怎樣毫不猶豫採取行動去捍衛司法獨立。