Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Encyclopedia
The President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the head of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
. The office is equivalent to the now-defunct position of Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, also known as the Senior Law Lord, who was the highest ranking Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
. The holder of this title was the head of the judicial branch
of the House of Lords
.
The office is currently held by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
, having been the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary when the judicial functions of the House of Lords were transferred to the new Supreme Court
on 1 October 2009 under the provisions of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005
.
From 1969 to 1984, Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary historically was the law lord who was senior by virtue of having served in the House for the longest period. In 1984, the Lord Chancellor
Lord Hailsham
amended the system so that two of the law lords were named senior and second senior by commission. The purpose of the change was to allow an ailing Lord Diplock
to step aside from presiding, yet remain a law lord. With the appointment of Lord Bingham of Cornhill, the role of Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary became a separately appointed position. The Second Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary was then in fact the law lord who has served for the longest period. When Lord Bingham retired in September 2008, he was replaced by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
, who was the last to serve.
By Royal Warrant
published on 1 October 2009, Queen
Elizabeth II established a place for the President of the Supreme Court in the order of precedence
: the President of the Supreme Court ranks after the Lord Speaker
of the House of Lords.
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
. The office is equivalent to the now-defunct position of Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, also known as the Senior Law Lord, who was the highest ranking Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
. The holder of this title was the head of the judicial branch
Judicial functions of the House of Lords
The House of Lords, in addition to having a legislative function, historically also had a judicial function. It functioned as a court of first instance for the trials of peers, for impeachment cases, and as a court of last resort within the United Kingdom. In the latter case the House's...
of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
The office is currently held by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
Nicholas Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers
Nicholas Addison Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers, KG PC is the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Before 1 October 2009 his title was Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He was Master of the Rolls from 2000 to 2005 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2005...
, having been the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary when the judicial functions of the House of Lords were transferred to the new Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
on 1 October 2009 under the provisions of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005
Constitutional Reform Act 2005
The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It provided for a Supreme Court of the United Kingdom to take over the existing role of the Law Lords as well as some powers of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and removed the functions of Speaker of...
.
From 1969 to 1984, Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary historically was the law lord who was senior by virtue of having served in the House for the longest period. In 1984, the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
Lord Hailsham
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone
For the businessman and philanthropist, see Quintin Hogg Quintin McGarel Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, KG, CH, PC, QC, FRS , formerly 2nd Viscount Hailsham , was a British politician who was known for the longevity of his career, the vigour with which he campaigned for the Conservative...
amended the system so that two of the law lords were named senior and second senior by commission. The purpose of the change was to allow an ailing Lord Diplock
Kenneth Diplock, Baron Diplock
William John Kenneth Diplock, Baron Diplock, KC was an English judge and Law Lord.-Early life:Born the son of a Croydon solicitor, he attended Whitgift School and University College, Oxford, where he read chemistry and was later to become an Honorary Fellow.-Career:Diplock was called to the bar by...
to step aside from presiding, yet remain a law lord. With the appointment of Lord Bingham of Cornhill, the role of Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary became a separately appointed position. The Second Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary was then in fact the law lord who has served for the longest period. When Lord Bingham retired in September 2008, he was replaced by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
Nicholas Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers
Nicholas Addison Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers, KG PC is the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Before 1 October 2009 his title was Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He was Master of the Rolls from 2000 to 2005 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2005...
, who was the last to serve.
By Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
published on 1 October 2009, Queen
Queen regnant
A queen regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right, in contrast to a queen consort, who is the wife of a reigning king. An empress regnant is a female monarch who reigns in her own right over an empire....
Elizabeth II established a place for the President of the Supreme Court in the order of precedence
United Kingdom order of precedence
The Order of precedence in the United Kingdom is the sequential hierarchy for nobility, clergy and holders of the various Orders of Chivalry in the constituent countries of the United Kingdom:* England and Wales* Scotland* Northern Ireland...
: the President of the Supreme Court ranks after the Lord Speaker
Lord Speaker
The Lord Speaker is the speaker of the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The office is analogous to the Speaker of the House of Commons: the Lord Speaker is elected by the members of the House of Lords and is expected to be politically impartial.Until July 2006, the role of...
of the House of Lords.
List of Senior Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
Prior to 22 May 1965, precedence among law lords was determined by seniority in the peerage rather than by appointment. Thereafter, seniority was determined by date of appointment. From 1984 forward, the senior and second senior law lords were appointed by commission.- Lord ReidJames Reid, Baron ReidJames Scott Cumberland Reid, Baron Reid, CH, KC FRSE was a Scottish Unionist politician and judge. His reputation is as one of the most outstanding judges of the 20th century....
(1969–1975) - Lord WilberforceRichard Wilberforce, Baron WilberforceRichard Orme Wilberforce, Baron Wilberforce, PC was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in the House of Lords from 1964 to 1982....
(1975–1982) - Lord DiplockKenneth Diplock, Baron DiplockWilliam John Kenneth Diplock, Baron Diplock, KC was an English judge and Law Lord.-Early life:Born the son of a Croydon solicitor, he attended Whitgift School and University College, Oxford, where he read chemistry and was later to become an Honorary Fellow.-Career:Diplock was called to the bar by...
(1982–1984) - Lord Fraser of TullybeltonIan Fraser, Baron Fraser of TullybeltonWalter Ian Reid Fraser, Baron Fraser of Tullybelton was a British judge.Fraser was made a Privy Counsellor in 1974. One year later he was appointed as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, and as a Law lord he was subsequently created a life peer. He took the title Baron Fraser of Tullybelton, of Bankfoot...
(1984–1985) - Lord Scarman (1985–1986)
- Lord Keith of Kinkel (1986–1996)
- Lord Goff of ChieveleyRobert Goff, Baron Goff of ChieveleyRobert Lionel Archibald Goff, Baron Goff of Chieveley PC DCL FBA is a retired British Judge.Lord Goff, High Steward of the University of Oxford, retired in 1998 as Senior Law Lord after more than a decade as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in the House of Lords...
(1996–1998) - Lord Browne-Wilkinson (1998–2000)
- Lord Bingham of CornhillThomas Bingham, Baron Bingham of CornhillThomas Henry Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill, KG PC QC FBA , was a British judge and jurist. He served in the highest judicial offices of the United Kingdom as Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice and as Senior Law Lord before his retirement, when he focused his work as a teacher and lecturer...
(2000–2008) - Lord Phillips of Worth MatraversNicholas Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth MatraversNicholas Addison Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers, KG PC is the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Before 1 October 2009 his title was Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He was Master of the Rolls from 2000 to 2005 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2005...
(2008 – 30 September 2009)
List of Presidents of the Supreme Court
- Lord Phillips of Worth MatraversNicholas Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth MatraversNicholas Addison Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers, KG PC is the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Before 1 October 2009 his title was Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He was Master of the Rolls from 2000 to 2005 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2005...
(1 October 2009 – present)
See also
- Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United KingdomDeputy President of the Supreme Court of the United KingdomThe Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the second most senior judge of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, after the President of the Supreme Court...
- Justice of the Supreme Court of the United KingdomJustice of the Supreme Court of the United KingdomJustices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom are the judges of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom other than the President and Deputy President. The Supreme Court is the highest in the United Kingdom for civil matters, and for criminal matters from England and Wales and Northern Ireland...