Sir, – Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter’s article on a court of appeal is more or less uncontroversial (Opinion, September 11th). It is well appreciated that he has to “sell” a court of appeal in advance of the referendum and doesn’t necessarily, in light of that task, want to cloud the issue by referring to other steps that could take pressure off the Supreme Court.
It is nevertheless disappointing that there is not at least the briefest reference to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as arbitration and mediation. I write inter alia as a member, in London, of the board of management of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – as such my focus and Mr Shatter's may differ. Nevertheless, ADR can stop cases entering the court lists and, where appropriate, can take out of the court system some of the appeals that might otherwise go on to be heard by the court of appeal or Supreme Court. – Yours, etc,
ARRAN DOWLING-
HUSSEY,
Temple Court Chambers,
Temple, London, England.