But courts can only act as far as financial resources allow. Governments must come to think more broadly about funding the justice system. Current Treasury models may be simply inappropriate. In short, courts are not mere service providers. The worth of the courts is not truly gauged by analysis of outputs alone, useful though that may be.
Courts operate at a much more fulsome level.
They are not just a piece of bureaucracy, but an overwhelmingly significant public organ. A drive for efficiency is important, but a focus on efficiency cannot be allowed to obscure the broader significance of this third arm of Government we are privileged to constitute. Courts are a vital constituent of the essential fabric of the State. And I believe it is critical that we do our best to remind the public of this, to restore a proper perception of our role. If bare effeciency were the only consideration, disputes could be resolved much more satisfactorily than in the courts.