I'm tempted to call him a 'so-called' judge but basically he's a disgrace to the bench

At face value, it all looks wrong. But I think there is more to the article. My guess is that judges are seeing more women take cases to court out of vengeance. I'm not saying this is the case here but I'm sure it's part of it.
This is dangerous because now we have the law making discreet overtures and placing the responsibility back onto the women suggesting that women who really are in highly vulnerable situations may not be taken as seriously.
I think the law is sending a plain message. If you can protect yourself do so and leave the coffers available for those women who have been in situations where they could not protect themselves. They are spelling out the difference.

Hi Rigby yes there is evidence and lots of research. It's easier to Google it than to list it here though. Although they've had bad press the men's support groups have taken a particular interest in this. Sadly I was aware of that research when working with children and parents involved in separation and divorce.

And you speak on behalf of judges and what they see how exactly nina. I'd be interested to have the evidence for that opinion

Rigby, I do know a couple of judges but I am making my own conclusions. There have been several high profile cases of women going to court claiming rape only to have been proved they lied. These cases undermine the progress that has been made so far for DV victims and women's groups so yes, in my opinion, which I'm allowed to have, I think the bigger picture is the law is suggesting don't bother bringing your case unless you are absolutely squeaky clean.

Where is the evidence that more women are making false accusations? It's also not possible for "women to take cases to court out of vengeance". The woman makes a complaint, the police investigate. If the police conclude the perpetrator has a case to answer, the case is sent to the CPS. If the CPS conclude its in the public interest to prosecute and that there is a reasonable chance of a Guilty finding, the case goes to court.
I don't have current statistics but it's long been the case that few allegations of rape go to court. The same goes for domestic violence. Anyone who has worked in the Courts, for Probation, for the Police, any decent solicitor to name just a few, will confirm false allegations are rare. A Not Guilty finding is not (always) proof of innocence.

I have no idea how many not guilty verdicts have been brought in when the defendant is guilty, but I do know how many guilty verdicts have been brought in when the defendant has later proved to be innocent , I am speaking of crimes other than domestic abuse but they still involved the police, CPS, lawyers, jury and judge and a verdict.

I agree with the judge who said women who get so drunk they can't protect themselves was correct. This makes a mockery of any other rape victim trying to obtain a fair verdict.

In the case with the cricketer, I surmise that the judge had evidence that the defendant had the opportunity to leave many times over. She chose not to. This undermines all those victims who simply cannot leave a bad situation and this is what the judges are saying. Unless you have a choice, don't bother bringing your case to court.
Getting so pissed you don't know what you're doing is a choice.
Unless you are a true domestic victim, which my mum was, stop wasting court time.

Some great victim-blaming going on here!

Iam good factual post for all the difference it will make. I despair at the misogyny and victim blaming on this thread. Also the point that a not guilty verdict does not mean the victim was lying - the number of times I have heard the argument that when its a not guilty verdict the woman should be prosecuted for perjury. This happened a lot in the Ched Evans case. This is one of the problems when everyone bleats that they are entitled to their opinion - I just want to shout no you're not when you don't know what you're talking about and what you think you know is plain wrong

True story. I once employed a married female who regularly showed up for work on Mondays with bruising to her face. neck and arms.
Taking her to one side, I asked if things were OK. She opened up and it turned out that Friday nights were heavy rough sex nights with her husband where he humiliated and controlled her. While this was going on, the children were banished to the other end of the house.
Once she told me what was happening, both myself and the other staff were then subjected to weekly reports of their deranged sexually active weekends where he would slap her around and she would hit him back.
One day, after she'd given yet another account of how she got her bruises, I asked her if she had the means to leave him?
'oh yes, she smiled. I do. My father left me his house and money several years ago.
Then why don't you take your children, who were frightened of him, and leave?
Her reply was 'I will have my revenge one day but for now I'm not giving the bastard the satisfaction of letting him think he's won'.

I object to the idea that this woman was a victim when I remember how my own mother and her generation had no choice or means of escaping.

And Rigby, please don't assume I don't know how the system works. I do and I can see what the courts are beginning to see. It makes a mockery of the real victims.

So Rigsby , you want to shout your opinions to those who express their opinions and accuse them of bleating,

I have known women who to outsiders looked as if they had a "choice" to leave an abusive partner but didn't take it because they were so terrified and controlled by their partner. Some were professional and had the means to leave. You cannot superficially judge another's relationship or motivation for staying in such a situation. A man who would rape a woman when she is drunk is in no way typical, and IMO would be a danger to women in any vulnerable situation. I also do not like the victim blaming tone of this thread.

Choosing to leave a violent man is not as easy as it sounds. Been there. Done that. And the amount of aggression and anger that was unleashed after leaving was a great deal greater than that which had gone before. And this in turn had much more impact on the children than me getting hit, out of their sight.

Lazi and Jess good posts ( and sorry Jess that you went through that) . I believe it's true that the most dangerous time for a woman in terms of being murdered or badly hurt is when she has managed to leave. And yy to the victim blaming going on - I'm constantly amazed by the misogyny expressed on various threads on GN. So many post opinions that are based on wrong information - that's why Iam s post was so useful. I am particularly irritated by suggestions that judges are basing their decisions on what they 'know' is'really' going on

Rigby46 - we live in an age where 'experts' are derided. That would include Judge Lindsay Kushner, who is accused of victim blaming when she certainly was not. She was an excellent, compassionate and highly experienced, intelligent Judge.

We could all write endless anecdotal evidence in support of a particular point of view. Many of us could write factual information about our personal experiences, as JessM was brave enough to do. We could also write about our professional experience of working with women and children living with the horror of domestic abuse. The Courts are "beginning to see" and have been for the 35 years I worked in them, the reality of so called domestic abuse. It is nonsense to suggest that there are more liars than genuine victims.

I know Iam I know. It's so depressing isn't it? Frankly I'm sick and tired of this 'I've a right to my opinion' when it's not backed up by any evidence when evidence is clearly required to be able to have an opinion ( it's not as though it's an opinion on the best flavour of ice cream although a thread on that would no doubt lead to some posts saying salted caramel was best although I've never tried it.). What I really can't understand is why so many women on here want to twist things so that the victim can be blamed, or they say she's not a victim, she's a liar etc. Oh well, for me this thread has run its course - no one is going to change their minds no matter what you tell them about the way the criminal justice system works or the reality of male violence against women. Over and out

I have never been a supporter of identity politics (feminism, racism, etc), but I'm beginning to change my mind.

I'm astounded at how many women seem to think that other women should be treated as second class citizens.

What's wrong with these women? It seems as tough they accept that they are inferior, but are OK if they play the game.

Women are their own worse enemy.

dd why do you think I suggested a feminist board? Oops TAAT. As you were?