Hammy Lammy's lack of judgment

MAGISTRATES and judges are as human as the rest of us. None of them are perfect. Many strive for perfection as they grapple with their positions of extraordinary power over others, and they don't always succeed.

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Some are just plain dodgy. I'll never forget the senior magistrate I met for evening drinks when I was a junior newspaper reporter. He was a prominent local businessman and I had to interview him for some story or other.

He got absolutely smashed. Proper three sheets to the wind stuff (all on my expenses, I might add). And when we were done, he scooped his car keys off the table and offered me a lift home in his Jaguar.

I declined, and as politely and casually as I could manage, asked him: "Are you sure you should be driving? What if you get stopped by the police?"

He stared at me in astonishment. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm a magistrate!" And off he wobbled to his car.