Max Hardy
@maxjlhardy.bsky.social
Barrister | TV legal consultant (Mr Bates, Landscapers, Criminal UK, Defending the Guilty) | Legal blogger & media commentator |
Kalisher Trust Trustee
Blogs, lectures, podcasts, profiles here:
https://linktr.ee/MaxJLHardy
Kalisher Trust Trustee
Blogs, lectures, podcasts, profiles here:
https://linktr.ee/MaxJLHardy
If you want an immediate antidote to the vacuous torrents of online slop engulfing us all read, right now, any play by Sir Tom Stoppard. He was the Shakespeare of the 20th century.
November 29, 2025 at 5:35 PM
If you want an immediate antidote to the vacuous torrents of online slop engulfing us all read, right now, any play by Sir Tom Stoppard. He was the Shakespeare of the 20th century.
Remove juries and who'll judge the judges?
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
November 28, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Remove juries and who'll judge the judges?
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Not one for standing on ceremony but always a certain awkwardness when a witness addresses you by first name from the witness box.
November 28, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Not one for standing on ceremony but always a certain awkwardness when a witness addresses you by first name from the witness box.
Wife: A man offered me a seat on the Tube today. Do you think he thought I was pregnant? Or old?
Me: He thought you were beautiful.
Me: He thought you were beautiful.
November 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Wife: A man offered me a seat on the Tube today. Do you think he thought I was pregnant? Or old?
Me: He thought you were beautiful.
Me: He thought you were beautiful.
Had classroom visit with the 6yo today who proudly showed me all his workbooks. When he gets home I’m going to show him a skeleton argument, some Grounds of Appeal and a Bad Character Application to show him the homework never ends.
November 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Had classroom visit with the 6yo today who proudly showed me all his workbooks. When he gets home I’m going to show him a skeleton argument, some Grounds of Appeal and a Bad Character Application to show him the homework never ends.
We were in the EU for less than 50 years and we got a referendum on it. We've had jury trial for over 800 years; perhaps the people should get a say in retaining it?
November 26, 2025 at 11:47 AM
We were in the EU for less than 50 years and we got a referendum on it. We've had jury trial for over 800 years; perhaps the people should get a say in retaining it?
There is one question I'd like David Lammy and his jury shrinking supporters to answer which is that if we don't need jury trial any more for the majority of cases why do we need it for ANY cases?
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 AM
There is one question I'd like David Lammy and his jury shrinking supporters to answer which is that if we don't need jury trial any more for the majority of cases why do we need it for ANY cases?
Lord Falconer on Today saying that the backlog justifies the virtual abolition of jury trial is like saying if there is a fire in your house you should blow it up rather than extinguish the fire. The backlog is temporary, jury trial should be forever.
November 26, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Lord Falconer on Today saying that the backlog justifies the virtual abolition of jury trial is like saying if there is a fire in your house you should blow it up rather than extinguish the fire. The backlog is temporary, jury trial should be forever.
You know what else is ‘inefficient’, ‘costly’ and a bureaucratic headache? Democracy. Jury trial is democracy on an individual level. Scrap it and reveal your contempt for society and those that constitute it. Us, in a word.
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
You know what else is ‘inefficient’, ‘costly’ and a bureaucratic headache? Democracy. Jury trial is democracy on an individual level. Scrap it and reveal your contempt for society and those that constitute it. Us, in a word.
Jury trial is what makes us British. You might as well propose the abolition of football.
November 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Jury trial is what makes us British. You might as well propose the abolition of football.
Here’s clarity. We’re in the fight of our lives and yours too.
November 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Here’s clarity. We’re in the fight of our lives and yours too.
Show me the schoolboy and I’ll show you the man.
November 25, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Show me the schoolboy and I’ll show you the man.
A concern with the government's assault on jury trial is that soon a convicted Mars bar thief will receive a reasoned verdict from a Circuit Judge. A jury convicted murderer receives no reasons. How is this justified for lesser offences & how long will that tension be tolerable?
November 24, 2025 at 10:38 PM
A concern with the government's assault on jury trial is that soon a convicted Mars bar thief will receive a reasoned verdict from a Circuit Judge. A jury convicted murderer receives no reasons. How is this justified for lesser offences & how long will that tension be tolerable?
I’m on the lookout for barristers that could give up 40 minutes 1310-1350 on one day over next 2 weeks to train a pair of students in public speaking online for Kalisher. No prep required. If you could help please DM me asap.
November 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I’m on the lookout for barristers that could give up 40 minutes 1310-1350 on one day over next 2 weeks to train a pair of students in public speaking online for Kalisher. No prep required. If you could help please DM me asap.
The 1yo has just whacked the 9yo on the head with a wooden spoon. The 9yo appealed to me for recourse but I had to explain that this is less doli incapax and more dolly incapax.
[little lawyers’ joke there]
[little lawyers’ joke there]
November 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The 1yo has just whacked the 9yo on the head with a wooden spoon. The 9yo appealed to me for recourse but I had to explain that this is less doli incapax and more dolly incapax.
[little lawyers’ joke there]
[little lawyers’ joke there]
9yo is an Arsenal nut. Took him to his first game at Twickenham.
9yo: I don’t understand why the England fans clapped when Argentina scored.
Me: Because rugby is not football.
9yo: I don’t understand why the England fans clapped when Argentina scored.
Me: Because rugby is not football.
November 23, 2025 at 8:56 PM
9yo is an Arsenal nut. Took him to his first game at Twickenham.
9yo: I don’t understand why the England fans clapped when Argentina scored.
Me: Because rugby is not football.
9yo: I don’t understand why the England fans clapped when Argentina scored.
Me: Because rugby is not football.
Left water bottle at the hot yoga place and went to collect it with the 9yo.
Me: Hi.
Yoga Instructor: Oh hi! Didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.
Me: This is my son.
Instructor: 😬Sorry!
9yo: Why did she say sorry?
Me: 🤷♂️
Me: Hi.
Yoga Instructor: Oh hi! Didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.
Me: This is my son.
Instructor: 😬Sorry!
9yo: Why did she say sorry?
Me: 🤷♂️
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Left water bottle at the hot yoga place and went to collect it with the 9yo.
Me: Hi.
Yoga Instructor: Oh hi! Didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.
Me: This is my son.
Instructor: 😬Sorry!
9yo: Why did she say sorry?
Me: 🤷♂️
Me: Hi.
Yoga Instructor: Oh hi! Didn’t recognise you with your clothes on.
Me: This is my son.
Instructor: 😬Sorry!
9yo: Why did she say sorry?
Me: 🤷♂️
The government intends to reduce the right to jury trial. I think this is a bad thing. But what do the judges think? open.substack.com/pub/counselo...
Stop the Revolution
Juries in jeopardy - what do judges think?
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
The government intends to reduce the right to jury trial. I think this is a bad thing. But what do the judges think? open.substack.com/pub/counselo...
It’s nice to have weather that means when you see someone wearing a balaclava you’re not about to have your phone nicked.
November 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
It’s nice to have weather that means when you see someone wearing a balaclava you’re not about to have your phone nicked.
Rashly pedalled off to court without a hat on this morning and at one stage was so cold I seriously considered putting my wig on.
November 19, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Rashly pedalled off to court without a hat on this morning and at one stage was so cold I seriously considered putting my wig on.
Absolutely staggering game from Scotland. 🏴 🎇
November 18, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Absolutely staggering game from Scotland. 🏴 🎇
Reposted by Max Hardy
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
November 18, 2025 at 9:44 AM
This mural has gone up in Kingston, ostensibly for Christmas but AI has ensured it's actually to celebrate the return of our dark lord Cthulhu
Reposted by Max Hardy
November 16, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Teaching children to see the special in others: open.substack.com/pub/counselo...
November 15, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Teaching children to see the special in others: open.substack.com/pub/counselo...