There has been much discussion, not least at the Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, about judicial appointments and how to ensure a diverse judiciary. One of the less practical suggestions made to widen the pool from which judges may be selected is to institute part-time judging. This, said the Lord Chancellor, would enable more…
I have two thoughts on the ripples spreading from the granting of injunctions to protect the privacy of celebrities. One is that the judiciary should not be subjected to pressure by politicians to interpret the law in a certain way, except through the passage of new legislation for them to apply. Parliament makes the law (in the situation…
As I write, the coroner in charge of the 7/7 inquests, Lady Justice Hallett, is about to deliver her findings. She has listened to five months of evidence of the most harrowing circumstances, with the bereaved family members of the victims in court, their suffering only too clear. It is universally agreed that she has…
I revert to reconsideration of the unfortunate situation we are in, with widespread reports of two new appointments of judges to the Supreme Court having been decided on, but not officially announced. The Law Lords used to sit in the House, but now they are called Justices of the Supreme Court and have their own building…
It may be recess but the Parliamentary timetable waits for no-one. Committee stage of the Pensions Bill starts next Monday 28th and amendments for the first day of committee had to be placed in the Public Bill Office by yesterday at 4.00pm. I have added my name to that of three former Lord Chancellors (Lords…
