Northern Ireland's Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan, has described it as "unwise" for members of the legal profession to give character references. She plans to have her sentencing group examine the issue, citing concerns from victims about their inability to challenge such references in court.
Dame Siobhan noted that while the law does not mandate judges to consider character references, they do appear in cases. She believes there is a "discussion" to be had on the matter, particularly regarding the "transparency" of the process for victims.
The comments follow an incident earlier this year where Law Society chief executive, David Lavery, provided a character reference for a cousin convicted of serious sexual offences. Members of the Law Society are anticipated to vote on Tuesday regarding their confidence in Mr Lavery.