Old Bailey

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Image:Oldbaileylondon-900.jpg Image:Old Bailey Microcosm edited.jpg The Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey (a bailey being part of a castle), is a Crown Court (criminal high court) in London, dealing with major criminal cases in the UK and colonies. It stands on the site of the medieval Newgate Gaol, in the street also called Old Bailey which is situated between Holborn circus and St Paul's Cathedral. The present building dates from 1907 and was designed by E.W. Mountford. Above the main entrance is inscribed, "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer".

Any judge, noble or commoner, whilst sitting in the Old Bailey is to be addressed as "My Lord", the reason being that assize judges are entitled to a seat in the House of Lords which is the ultimate superior court in the United Kingdom, although their presence today is strictly decorative for ceremonies while only the highest qualified judges, or law lords, now take part in debates. The Lord Mayor of London is entitled to sit on the judges' bench during a hearing but does not actively participate in trials.

On the dome above the court is to be found the statue of justice, a woman (she is not blindfolded as many assume; blindfolding symbolising impartiality), holding in her right hand a sword symbolising the act of justice, and in her left hand a balance symbolising equity. Unfortunately, close examination of the balance reveals that one tray is roughly 1 foot 6 inches, or 45 centimetres lower than the other.

Although most court hearings in the UK are public, the number 2 court has the peculiarity that the witness box is placed underneath the public gallery, thus ensuring the anonymity of witnesses during certain delicate trials.

During the Battle of Britain, Old Bailey was bombed and severely damaged, but subsequent reconstruction work restored most of it.

From 1970 to 1972 a new South Block was built containing more modern courts.

The most senior judge of the Old Bailey has the title of the Recorder of London, and his deputy has the title of Common Serjeant of London. The present Recorder of London is His Honour Judge Peter Beaumont QC, who was appointed in December 2004 following the death earlier that year of his predecessor, His Honour Judge Michael Hyam. The present Common Serjeant is His Honour Judge Brian Barker QC. The position of Recorder of London should not be confused with that of Recorder, which is the name given to judges who sit part-time.

The Old Bailey is where Sir John Mortimer practised as a barrister. His courtroom experiences led him to create the fictional character Horace Rumpole, alias Rumpole of the Bailey.

While the Old Bailey (being a criminal court) is open to the public to view trials, it is forbidden for the public to take any form of note in writing and no form of electronic equipment, including mobile phones, can be brought in by the public. One member of the public whose mobile happened to interrupt a trial was called before the court and immediately sentenced to six months imprisonment for contempt of court.

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In popular culture

In the graphic novel V for Vendetta, the anarchist protagonist has a "conversation" with the statue of justice, at the top of the building, acting as if she is an ex-girlfriend: he accuses her of cheating on him like a whore with "a man in uniform" -- the fascist regime that has taken over Britain -- but then informs her that her "infidelity" has driven him into the arms of a new "lover", Anarchy. V says that his new love has taught him that "justice" is meaningless without freedom, and then leaves a parting gift at her feet, a package of explosives which demolish the entire building, symbolizing his rejection of The State in favor of Anarchism. The destruction of the monument is also present in the 2006 film adaptation, where it is the title character's first terrorist act, beginning the one year countdown to the destruction of the Houses of Parliament.

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