Opened the debate
Mr Tice proposed a Bill to make provision for the general public to petition the Criminal Cases Review Commission to review sentences that they believe to be either too harsh or too lenient. He emphasised the importance of confidence in our judicial system, noting that even experienced judges can get things wrong and there is a need for additional safeguards without impinging on original judgments. He suggested 500 public signatures could prompt reconsideration by the commission within eight weeks.