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Ministers risk undermining the authority of the judiciary by starving it of funds, the country’s most senior judge warned in his valedictory speech.
Lord Neuberger – who is standing down as President of the Supreme Court after five years in the top job – has also demanded that Theresa May’s government clarify the position of the European court rulings in the UK after the country quits the EU.
‘The high quality and proper authority of the judiciary, and therefore the rule of law, is at risk if ministers and parliamentarians do not provide us with appropriate support in the form of both words and means,’ Lord Neuberger said in his leaving speech to a packed courtroom.
He went on to caution against politicising the role of the judiciary, saying that ‘misconceived attacks on judges undermine both the rule of law domestically and the international reputation of the legal system, with its consequential financial benefits to the country’.
Several days later, Lord Neuberger told BBC News that ministers urgently needed to clarify the position of rulings from the Court of Justice of the EU after Brexit. ‘If [the government] doesn’t express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the ECJ after Brexit, or indeed any other topic after Brexit, then the judges will simply have to do their best,’ he said.
But Lord Neuberger warned that ‘to blame the judges for making the law when Parliament has failed to do so would be unfair’.
Ministers risk undermining the authority of the judiciary by starving it of funds, the country’s most senior judge warned in his valedictory speech.
Lord Neuberger – who is standing down as President of the Supreme Court after five years in the top job – has also demanded that Theresa May’s government clarify the position of the European court rulings in the UK after the country quits the EU.
‘The high quality and proper authority of the judiciary, and therefore the rule of law, is at risk if ministers and parliamentarians do not provide us with appropriate support in the form of both words and means,’ Lord Neuberger said in his leaving speech to a packed courtroom.
He went on to caution against politicising the role of the judiciary, saying that ‘misconceived attacks on judges undermine both the rule of law domestically and the international reputation of the legal system, with its consequential financial benefits to the country’.
Several days later, Lord Neuberger told BBC News that ministers urgently needed to clarify the position of rulings from the Court of Justice of the EU after Brexit. ‘If [the government] doesn’t express clearly what the judges should do about decisions of the ECJ after Brexit, or indeed any other topic after Brexit, then the judges will simply have to do their best,’ he said.
But Lord Neuberger warned that ‘to blame the judges for making the law when Parliament has failed to do so would be unfair’.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
