In the typical representation of justice Themis holds the scales but is blinded signifying that justice is blind to the status of those who are to be judged. Justice is blind to differences of race, to sex, but also to whether a person is head of the Royal Society or some blogger, whether public sector or private, whether an academic or a consultant. Justice requires that we are all judged equally by the same law.
If you offer advice to government and claim that advice should be followed, then you are taking on the role of a normal private sector consultant who is legally liable for the costs incurred by those to whom they give bad advice.
This is just a simple principle of law. Another is that there is no distinction between an academic and any any other person – we are all equal under the law.
The private sector consultant’s advice can be relied on, not because they are superior, but because from bitter experience in the courts, they know they are liable when their advice is wrong. That is why they are cautious – a lesson academics have not
so far learnt.
Academics used to avoid giving advice and so stayed clear of this legal minefield. Then they became arrogant and thought they were omniscient and could divine the future of climate.
But when academics chose themselves to step into the role of the advisor, and despite all we sceptics said, refused to heed our advice to be cautious, they wilfully took on the full legal liability when their advice is wrong.
They chose it! Continue reading →
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