George Palmer

So, what to do in the best interests of the child?

I had evidence from social workers, psychiatrists and so on, and it was pretty clear that the mother was not in a position where she could take care of the child.

So I decided it was in the best interest of the child to let the adoption proceed.

Now, to announce that in court...

to the mother was a very difficult thing to do.

And we were all in tears, still in tears remembering it.

My associate was in tears, the court staff, but a decision has to be made and you have to apply the law.

So, you know, I think that I made the best decision I could in the circumstances, as the Lord directed me to do in the interests of the child.

It caused extreme grief to so many people.

But that's your responsibility at that stage.

The decision ends with you.

You take the responsibility for it.

I was dealing with commercial cases most of the time.

That's important in its way.

Disputes have to be resolved.

But dealing with these real human issues and seeing how we have established principles in our community to deal with these problems and that they have to be applied fairly and properly, that I regarded as the most important part of my work.

It was very much on the side, under the covers, as it were.

I mean, the law is very demanding, both when you're a barrister and when you're a judge.

You have to make that your priority.

And then, of course, my family, a growing family.