*/
The fourth non-lawyer Lord Chancellor in a row was sworn in at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in June, promising to defend the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
David Lidington said: ‘I am determined I will be resolute and unflinching as Lord Chancellor in upholding the rule of law and defending the independence of the judiciary,’ which ‘form the very bedrock of a free and democratic society’ and ‘safeguard us against tyranny and dictatorship’.
He praised judges’ intellect, sharp legal minds, and wealth of knowledge, together with their dedication, personal integrity and commitment to ensure the judiciary is ‘fair, free from improper influence, and truly independent’. Judges, he said, embody the rule of law.
The speech will have been welcomed by senior judges, after the perceived failure of his predecessor, Liz Truss, to stand up for the independence of the judiciary in the wake of the media attack that followed the Brexit judgment.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, said it was ‘vital for the whole of our state’ that his third oath, which encapsulates the ‘special constitutional responsibilities for respecting the rule of law, for defending the independence of the judiciary and for the provision of resources which Parliament has entrusted to the Lord Chancellor’ was ‘fully discharged’.
Welcoming the new Lord Chancellor, Bar Chair Andrew Langdon QC emphasized that: ‘Justice is not a ‘service’ that governments can choose to provide or not; it is a separate branch of a democratic government.’
The fourth non-lawyer Lord Chancellor in a row was sworn in at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in June, promising to defend the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
David Lidington said: ‘I am determined I will be resolute and unflinching as Lord Chancellor in upholding the rule of law and defending the independence of the judiciary,’ which ‘form the very bedrock of a free and democratic society’ and ‘safeguard us against tyranny and dictatorship’.
He praised judges’ intellect, sharp legal minds, and wealth of knowledge, together with their dedication, personal integrity and commitment to ensure the judiciary is ‘fair, free from improper influence, and truly independent’. Judges, he said, embody the rule of law.
The speech will have been welcomed by senior judges, after the perceived failure of his predecessor, Liz Truss, to stand up for the independence of the judiciary in the wake of the media attack that followed the Brexit judgment.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, said it was ‘vital for the whole of our state’ that his third oath, which encapsulates the ‘special constitutional responsibilities for respecting the rule of law, for defending the independence of the judiciary and for the provision of resources which Parliament has entrusted to the Lord Chancellor’ was ‘fully discharged’.
Welcoming the new Lord Chancellor, Bar Chair Andrew Langdon QC emphasized that: ‘Justice is not a ‘service’ that governments can choose to provide or not; it is a separate branch of a democratic government.’
Now is the time to tackle inappropriate behaviour at the Bar as well as extend our reach and collaboration with organisations and individuals at home and abroad
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
And if not, why not? asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the many benefits of oral fluid drug testing for child welfare and protection matters
To mark International Women’s Day, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management looks at how financial planning can help bridge the gap
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs answers some of the most common questions regarding relationship DNA testing for court
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier
