established january led sir investigate law reform consisting lawyers thirteen commission met approximately times week proposed changes radical time reducing use death penalty allowing witnesses legal aid lawyers defendants criminal cases creating county courts court appeal criminal cases commission unsuccessful passing measures measures law subsequent parliament middle 20th century debate occurred effectiveness strife commission moderate radical members general conclusion sheer volume work produced vast proportion moderate radical members unlikely strife existed background establishment loss english civil war led establishment rule commonwealth succeeding considerable desire law reform judges lawyers corrupt criminal law followed real reason philosophy death proceedings form judges regularly imprisoned reaching verdict disagreed aimed establish new society included reforming law end january sir appointed chairman commission investigate law reform soon known commission official defined taking consideration law grow delays irregularities proceedings law prevented way reform present opinions committee parliament shall appoint commission consisted lawyers thirteen appointed december sat january approximately times week chamber house_of_lords members parliament allowed sit addition members included recommendations commission recommended changes criminal law supported reducing use death penalty murderers executed abduction child considered capital crime suggested allowing prisoners access lawyers case prosecution permitted representation allowing witnesses defence evidence oath legal aid considered rejection case legal aid given result defendant sent month abolition way avoid land proposed legal system reform commission suggested creation county courts led westminster judges jurisdiction civil actions small claims courts amounts manned commissioners approved justices peace supported creation court appeal consisting chosen parliament formation land registry permanent law commission wishes commission called abolition benefit clergy charged justified homicide commission suggested longer imprisoned attorneys educated allowed admitted members commission recommendations law commission produce bills read house_of_commons remainder given july following committee dissolution july successor parliament brought commission suggestions abolish fines original develop procedures civil marriages force statutes commission suggestions point followed use death penalty curtailed finally abolished onwards witnesses allowed defence prisoners counsel act allowed legal representation defendants use abolished benefit clergy permanent law commission finally established law commissions act finally established academic debate commission value strong hand wrote commission strife members radical nature proposals extreme academics argued reform scheme great merit writes evidence confirm belief sir lawyers difficult time writing notes members certainly certainly lawyers dominated discussions debate highly technical level prevented contributing educated large number meetings sheer volume work produced suggests little dissent argument biography suggested measures law immediately pioneers enhancing legal system concept justice
Hale Commission