On Wednesday afternoon, under the Ten Minutes Rule, the Attorney-General
asked leave to introduce a Bill estab- lishing a Court of Criminal Appeal. The proposed Court, to which the powers now possessed by the Court of Crown Cases Reserved will be transferred, is to consist of seven Judges of the King's Bench Division, to be eelected and presided over by the Lord Chief Justice. On matters of law the right of appeal is to be unqualified; on matters of fact leave to appeal
must first be obtained from the Court itself. It is not pro- posed that there should be retrial, but the Court will have the power to.call for fresh evidence, and to confirm, set aside, or modify the conviction. Provision will alio be made to supply poor men with legal advice if necessary. The prerogative of mercy Will be left untonehed, but the Home Secretary will have the advantage of being able to take the opinion of the Court of Appeal. It is obvious that the chief difficulty in connexion with the proposal is that, if the Bench is already undermanned, it is not fit to undertake the onions additional labour involved in the establishment and composition of the new Court.
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