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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)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
