The issue of mouth protection or not mouth protection is being discussed in many areas right now.

So too in the courts. 

- You know yourself that there are different views on whether mouth guards are effective or not, says Lennart Svensäter who is head of the Court of Appeal. 

He talks about the adjustments made to the premises in Malmö due to the corona.

The judges are placed as far apart as possible, and extra tables have been set up to increase the distance.  

However, there are no plexiglass sheets.

And no mouth guards on the staff. 

See the face

- The reason is that you should be able to see the people who are going to judge you, the whole face with facial features, says Svensäter. 

Does the ban also apply to the judges? 

 - Yes it does.

On the other hand, there is no ban for the agents, but I would like to see that they do not have mouth guards on.

The prison staff, who bring detainees here, may wear mouth guards. 

The Finnish Courts Administration recommends mouth protection and in the European Court of Justice, mouth protection is mandatory.

How do you look at it? 

- I have no views on what they do in Finland and in the European Court of Justice.  

Timeout

The ban on mouth protection has now caused a board member to take a timeout. 

- He feels that he wants mouth protection, and together we have decided not to call him until May, says Lennart Svensäter.

President of the Court of Appeal Lennart Svensäter thinks it should be possible to see who is judging.

Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT