Judge Dredd fans...why the Long Walk?

[darkwing_duck1]

Admittedly my sum total exposure to the Dredd-verse is the Stalone movie plus a handful of media browses, so can someone explain to me why Judges when they retire take the Long Walk?

I would think that the task of bringing law to the Blasted Earth (is that the right term?) outside the Megacities would be a task for young and vigorous Judges (and not just as solo operatives), not "old wolves" at the end of their careers and lives.

 

[KevasTrader]

Judges can only retire in theory.

They are recruited as children and swear to uphold The Law until they die.

When they reach 'retirement age' and can no longer perform their duties adequately in Mega City One ("a task for young and vigorous Judges ") they need to be useful somewhere else ...

The Cursed Earth is an irradiated wasteland, populated by lawless outcasts and mutants. This is the perfect place for older Judges who can bring law to the lawless ... if the radiation doesn't kill them first!!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but the Long Walk is not mandatory *in the comics* for retiring Judges, is it?

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Judges can only retire in theory.

They are recruited as children and swear to uphold The Law until they die.

When they reach 'retirement age' and can no longer perform their duties adequately in Mega City One ("a task for young and vigorous Judges ") they need to be useful somewhere else ...

The Cursed Earth is an irradiated wasteland, populated by lawless outcasts and mutants. This is the perfect place for older Judges who can bring law to the lawless ... if the radiation doesn't kill them first!!!

It almost sounds like you're saying it's a form of ritual suicide...

 

[nx1701g]

Judges can only retire in theory.

They are recruited as children and swear to uphold The Law until they die.

When they reach 'retirement age' and can no longer perform their duties adequately in Mega City One ("a task for young and vigorous Judges ") they need to be useful somewhere else ...

The Cursed Earth is an irradiated wasteland, populated by lawless outcasts and mutants. This is the perfect place for older Judges who can bring law to the lawless ... if the radiation doesn't kill them first!!!

It almost sounds like you're saying it's a form of ritual suicide...

That was how I always took it as being.

 

[Prydonian]

The Long Walk into the Cursed Earth (or into the Undercity - can't forget the Undercity!) is one option for aging judges - others end up teaching at the Academy of Law. The Long Walk seems to preferred by those who don't want to be stuck with a desk job.

It also isn't just for elderly judges. Some take the walk after they have blemished their records in some way and face being dismissed from Justice Department, or if their judgement becomes questionable. Dredd himself once took the Long Walk because he started questioning his own faith in the justice system.

Remember, the average Mega-City 1 judge knows no way of life other than being a part of Justice Department.

 

[matthunter]

Agreed on the above points, a Judge nearing the end of his useful street career can opt to teach at the Academy (Dredd's army against the insane Chief Judge Cal was largely comprised of Academy tutors, and they were pretty effective) or take the Walk. I guess it's a way of continuing their street career in a way that doesn't necessarily endanger Mega-City One should their health fail them... a more experienced Judge is still a formidable foe given 40-50 years on the beat without dying - but out in the Cursed Earth he won't endanger other Judges (or MC1 citizens) if his reflexes prove too slow.

Question, has a Psi-Judge ever taken the Long Walk? I know they were making a big thing about Anderson being over fifty now and unable to take rejuvenation treatments like Dredd has because they're incompatible with Psi-talent. I can't see the Judges letting a Psi just roam around without some form of control, given their attitude to non-Judge Psis...

 

[Reverend]

I'm not as well read on 2000 A.D. as others, but I've always taken it as a way of guarding against a single Judge staying in a powerful position too long or accumulating too much power. It might be worth remembering that any Judge that survived to retirement must be an extremely capable, tough as nails and a complete bastard. Such people left too long in a position of power and seniority could become a Caesar like threat to the Mega-City.
Though in actuality it's probably more like Seppuku, with a slant towards western sensibilities.

 

[Prydonian]

Agreed on the above points, a Judge nearing the end of his useful street career can opt to teach at the Academy (Dredd's army against the insane Chief Judge Cal was largely comprised of Academy tutors, and they were pretty effective) or take the Walk. I guess it's a way of continuing their street career in a way that doesn't necessarily endanger Mega-City One should their health fail them... a more experienced Judge is still a formidable foe given 40-50 years on the beat without dying - but out in the Cursed Earth he won't endanger other Judges (or MC1 citizens) if his reflexes prove too slow.

Question, has a Psi-Judge ever taken the Long Walk? I know they were making a big thing about Anderson being over fifty now and unable to take rejuvenation treatments like Dredd has because they're incompatible with Psi-talent. I can't see the Judges letting a Psi just roam around without some form of control, given their attitude to non-Judge Psis...

I recall one Anderson story where she visited her mentor from the Academy in which it was implied that most (if not all) psi-judges eventually "burn out" mentally and physically because of the constant use of their powers. In the mentor's case, she was a prematurely aged vegetable confined to a wheelchair. I find it hard to imagine that Justice Department would willingly let experienced psi-judges wander off into the wilderness when they could just keep using them until they burn out.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

I guess it's a way of continuing their street career in a way that doesn't necessarily endanger Mega-City One should their health fail them... a more experienced Judge is still a formidable foe given 40-50 years on the beat without dying - but out in the Cursed Earth he won't endanger other Judges (or MC1 citizens) if his reflexes prove too slow.

Such Judges have been portrayed before in the big Meg. The more corrupt Judges seem to be the older ones too.

It might make for better PR, less Judges dying ont he streets, more prescence beyond the walls to keep the undesireables out.

 

[matthunter]

Such Judges have been portrayed before in the big Meg. The more corrupt Judges seem to be the older ones too.

Ironically, usually these are older Judges who have accepted promotions to positions of seniority that take them away from the "front line" of the streets. Or succumbed to mental illness like McGruder...

 

[matthunter]

I recall one Anderson story where she visited her mentor from the Academy in which it was implied that most (if not all) psi-judges eventually "burn out" mentally and physically because of the constant use of their powers. In the mentor's case, she was a prematurely aged vegetable confined to a wheelchair. I find it hard to imagine that Justice Department would willingly let experienced psi-judges wander off into the wilderness when they could just keep using them until they burn out.

Yeah, Psis have it rough in the Dreddverse. Any Psi not part of the Justice Department is gonna be sentenced to an Iso-Cube if caught, and the Psi-Judges themselves are looked on with suspicion by the rest of the Justice Department for being too "highly-strung". Added to which Psi-Div is currently struggling since falling radiation levels since the Atomic Wars mean less Psis are being born and their recruitment was down anyway, making them reliant on "star players" like Anderson.

 

[Starkers]

The Long Walk into the Cursed Earth (or into the Undercity - can't forget the Undercity!)

No definitely can't forget the Undercity, curiously I've always found that more interesting than the Cursed Earth.

 

[EnsignRicky]

Somebody has to keep those damned kids off the cursed lawns.