Blackstone’s gets the judges' nod

Blackstone’s Criminal Practice will remain the standard text in criminal courts, the judiciary has confirmed, ending to speculation that an earlier decision to replace the time-honoured Archbold would be reversed.

In July this year HM Courts and Tribunals Judiciary said the Judicial Executive Board had decided that Blackstone’s Criminal Practice should replace Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice as the standard text in criminal courts.

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Blackstone’s publisher Oxford University Press confirmed the news today.

In a notice sent out this week, Senior Presiding Judge Adrian Fulford said the JEB was aware that ‘some practitioners’ were unhappy with the decision and had delayed purchasing Blackstone’s because of ‘unfounded speculation that our position will be reversed’. 

‘I am writing to put an end to this speculation and confirm that Blackstone’s Criminal Practice will be the standard text in all criminal courts,’ he added.

Greg Foxsmith, president of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, said traditionalist advocates used to using Archbold were ‘having a meltdown’ about the change.  

‘It will be interesting to see whether in a year’s time Blackstone’s have won over the Archbold fans,’ he added.

Archbold’s text has been in publication since 1822 and was first written by John Frederick Archbold.

Blackstone’s was first published in 1991 by Blackstone Press, which is now a subsidiary of OUP.

Andy Redman, editorial director for law at OUP, said it the publisher was delighted to see Blackstone’s had been formally recognised by the judiciary.

The publishers’ prices for the print volumes are £320 for Blackstone’s and £475 for Archbold.

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Blackstone’s gets the judges' nod