Supreme Court seeks new Justices

The UK Supreme Court has launched competitions to find a Justice from Northern Ireland and a Justice from England and Wales.

The UKSC’s press release of today includes a video summary from Lord Reed, explaining the role of a Justice. The role includes:

• hearing appeals at the UKSC and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council;

• promoting the understanding of the UKSC; and

• engaging members of the public in educational activities, for example by judging moots or delivering public speeches on the law.

The competitions have been launched as Lord Lloyd-Jones is set to retire in January, with Lord Stephens to follow in April. By statute, the UKSC is required to have judges who know the law of each part of the UK.

The Supreme Court as we know it was established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, which came into legal effect when the newly restored premises were ready in 2009. Before then, the highest appeals were heard by the Law Lords of the House of Lords. Justices appointed after 2009 under the terms of the Constitutional Reform Act, which provides for appointment by selection commission.

The deadline for applications is 9am on 19th October.

Earlier this month, the UKSC confirmed that Lord Briggs would become its next President in January. He is set to replace Lord Reed and will be the court’s fifth President since its establishment.