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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.’
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
