Menu
01/10/2009
Law Lords Lose Out To Courts
The final court of appeal for all UK civil cases - and criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland - has today undergone an historic change.
A new Supreme Court takes over from the House of Lords as the highest court in the land.
The Supreme Court is the result of the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005, aimed at separating the highest appeal court from the upper house of Parliament, and remove the Law Lords from the legislature.
It also marks the end of an almost century and half association with Parliament, as Law Lords and the court itself shifts from the Palaces of Westminster to a refursbished former court house nearby.
The Supreme Court will now be housed in the newly refurbished Middlesex Guildhall and, in a US-style move, cases will be broadcast live.
The 12 current Law Lords will be known as the First Justices of the Supreme Court and will remain members of the House of Lords - but in future, new judges appointed to the Supreme Court will not be members of the Lords.
Lord Phillips, who was the senior Law Lord, has taken over a new role as President of the Supreme Court.
He said: "It's quite a dramatic moment. In theory, the change is one of form and not of substance.
"In this building, we're going to be doing the same job that we had been doing in the House of Lords.
"The difference is that people will understand precisely who we are and why we are doing the job, something I think that was not clear to many people when we were sitting as Law Lords".
All 12 judges were sworn in during a special ceremony inside the court this morning, before taking part in the traditional march to Westminster Abbey for a service marking the start of Michaelmas.
(BMcC/KMcA)
A new Supreme Court takes over from the House of Lords as the highest court in the land.
The Supreme Court is the result of the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005, aimed at separating the highest appeal court from the upper house of Parliament, and remove the Law Lords from the legislature.
It also marks the end of an almost century and half association with Parliament, as Law Lords and the court itself shifts from the Palaces of Westminster to a refursbished former court house nearby.
The Supreme Court will now be housed in the newly refurbished Middlesex Guildhall and, in a US-style move, cases will be broadcast live.
The 12 current Law Lords will be known as the First Justices of the Supreme Court and will remain members of the House of Lords - but in future, new judges appointed to the Supreme Court will not be members of the Lords.
Lord Phillips, who was the senior Law Lord, has taken over a new role as President of the Supreme Court.
He said: "It's quite a dramatic moment. In theory, the change is one of form and not of substance.
"In this building, we're going to be doing the same job that we had been doing in the House of Lords.
"The difference is that people will understand precisely who we are and why we are doing the job, something I think that was not clear to many people when we were sitting as Law Lords".
All 12 judges were sworn in during a special ceremony inside the court this morning, before taking part in the traditional march to Westminster Abbey for a service marking the start of Michaelmas.
(BMcC/KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 February 2004
Local community to gain role in running of courts system
Measures to ensure that local people have a say in how their courts are run have been unveiled today by Courts Minister Chris Leslie. New regulations, developed following a consultation which was published today, set out the framework for 42 community focused Courts Boards in England and Wales.
Local community to gain role in running of courts system
Measures to ensure that local people have a say in how their courts are run have been unveiled today by Courts Minister Chris Leslie. New regulations, developed following a consultation which was published today, set out the framework for 42 community focused Courts Boards in England and Wales.
21 July 2006
Teen rapist sentenced to nine years in prison
A teenager who raped an 11-year-old girl in the toilets of a supermarket has been sentenced to nine years detention. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, assaulted the girl at Sainsbury's store in Lemington Spa, Warwickshire, in March 2.
Teen rapist sentenced to nine years in prison
A teenager who raped an 11-year-old girl in the toilets of a supermarket has been sentenced to nine years detention. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, assaulted the girl at Sainsbury's store in Lemington Spa, Warwickshire, in March 2.
27 March 2009
Domestic Violence Victims To Receive Extra Support
Victims of Domestic Violence will receive extra help and support from 18 new Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has announced. The new courts will be located in Eastern England, East Midlands, London, North East, North West, South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside.
Domestic Violence Victims To Receive Extra Support
Victims of Domestic Violence will receive extra help and support from 18 new Specialist Domestic Violence Courts, Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has announced. The new courts will be located in Eastern England, East Midlands, London, North East, North West, South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside.
21 July 2005
Magistrates to get access to missing offender database
Magistrates' courts across England and Wales are to gain electronic access to one of the country's largest databases to help track down missing offenders who ignore fines and other court penalties.
Magistrates to get access to missing offender database
Magistrates' courts across England and Wales are to gain electronic access to one of the country's largest databases to help track down missing offenders who ignore fines and other court penalties.
25 February 2004
Government Bill outlines plans for new Supreme Court
Plans to set up an independent Supreme Court as the UK's highest court of appeal have been published today in the Constitutional Reform Bill. The Supreme Court will be the final court of appeal for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and the final civil court of appeal for Scotland.
Government Bill outlines plans for new Supreme Court
Plans to set up an independent Supreme Court as the UK's highest court of appeal have been published today in the Constitutional Reform Bill. The Supreme Court will be the final court of appeal for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and the final civil court of appeal for Scotland.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, soon followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
