It may seem barking, but it's in the interests of a fur trial… and the avoidance of ruff justice.
Senior judges have held talks on letting criminal defendants, witnesses and jurors bring their pets into court for 'emotional support'.
The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC), which sets guidance for courts, discussed whether cats and dogs could bring comfort to those in the dock.
Guide dogs have been allowed in court for years but minutes from the CPRC meeting this month have revealed the talks on extending this to pet cats and dogs.
The judges' minutes, however, add: ‘Bovine, porcine, equine or avian companions are not presently in contemplation.'
Senior judges have held talks on letting criminal defendants, witnesses and jurors bring their pets into court for 'emotional support'
In a further humorous aside, the judges note that legal rules forbid anyone ‘discussing the evidence with the witness, advising the witness on how to answer a question, or giving legal advice; though perfunctory research on YouTube indicates that at least some dogs and cats might do at least as well in each of these respects as some human beings'.
A briefing document prepared for the CPRC meeting also revealed that a former president of the Family Division was ‘well known for taking a dog into the court- room; though whether for the potential benefit of witnesses, or of the dog, or of the judge, was never explained'.
Allowing pets in courts was raised by CPRC member Judge Heather Norton, who said that ‘therapy dogs' could be used to calm an emotional witness – such as a child giving evidence in a sex offence case. But last night, a source close to the committee said it remained ‘highly unlikely' that pets would be routinely allowed into courts.
Guide dogs have been allowed in court for years but minutes from the CPRC meeting this month have revealed the talks on extending this to pet cats and dogs
The source added: ‘At present, the general approach in practice appears to be that no dog should be allowed in a criminal courtroom for the support of a witness unless there are very compelling reasons to do so, in the individual judge's view.'
Chelmsford County Court in Essex has in the recent past allowed therapy dogs and cats to come to court to reduce stress for witnesses and defendants. In 2015, a 72-year-old woman charged with two counts of stalking was allowed to take a black cat into the courtroom.
Pets were also supplied to the court by local animal charities. But the scheme stopped in 2019 after a new judge ruled against it.
Courthouse ‘facility dogs' have been allowed in trials in America, Canada and Chile, where they help to comfort children, crime victims and witnesses, plus those appearing in mental health cases.
At least 16 US states allow dogs to accompany vulnerable victims and witnesses in court. Emotional support animals are allowed by some airlines, with owners often required to register them with organisations such as Assistance Dogs UK.
