What's New

19 December 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Divisional Court - Approved Judgment
R (on the application of Al-Saadoon & Mufdhi) -v- Secretary of State for Defence

18 December 2008
Management of cases from the Organised Crime Division of the Crown Prosecution Service (PDF 39kb)

16 December 2008
Statement by the President of the Family Division
Government announcement on Transparency in the Family Courts

16 December 2008
No: 10 Press Notice: Appointment of Lords Justices of Appeal
Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve that The Honourable Mr Justice Jeremy Mirth Sullivan be appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on the retirement of Lord Justice Tuckey, with effect from 12 January 2009, and that The Honourable Mr Justice Patrick Elias be appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on the retirement of Lord Justice Latham, with effect from 4 February 2009.

15 December 2008
Judicial Communications Office News Release
Appointment of New Presiding Judge for the South Eastern Circuit

12 December 2008
Civil Justice Council Press Release
Final recommendations to improve access to justice for consumers and small businesses in collective claims (PDF 28kb)

10 December 2008
Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls
The Woolf Reforms: A singular event or an ongoing process? (PDF 137kb)

4 December 2008
Judicial participation in research projects: Guidance for researchers (PDF 35kb)
The aim of this guidance is to promote a consistent approach to requests for judicial assistance with research into the judicial process, or other aspects of court administration or procedure.

28 November 2008
Speech by Lord Justice Leveson, Senior Presiding Judge
Dicey Revisited: Separation of powers for the 21st century (PDF 141kb)

25 November 2008
Statement from the Office for Judicial Complaints: Dr Vijay Dwivedi

20 November 2008
Speech by Mr Justice Ryder
Conkerton Memorial Lecture 2008 - The Autonomy of the Citizen in the context of Family Law Disputes (PDF 72kb)

20 November 2008
Judicial Communications Office News Release
UK Association of Women Judges Marks Fifth Anniversary

20 November 2008
Speech by Lord Justice Carnwath, Senior President of Tribunals
Tribunal Justice - A New Start (PDF 86kb)

19 November 2008
Speech by Cindy Barnett, JP
The Magistrates Association Annual General Meeting 2008 (PDF 39kb)

18 November 2008
Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls
Atkin Lecture 2008: "Open Societies and the Rule of the Law" (PDF 136kb)

13 November 2008
Practice Directions: Enforcement of Children Act 1989 Contact Orders

10 November 2008
Statement from the Judicial Communications Office - Speech by Mr Paul Dacre

6 November 2008
Practice Direction
Allocation and Transfer of Proceedings Order 2008

5 November 2008
Speech by Lord Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
"The Criminal Justice System In England and Wales - Time for Change?" (PDF 88kb)

3 November 2008
Judicial Communications Office News Release
Lord Justice Jackson appointed to undertake review of civil costs

31 October 2008
The Senior President of Tribunals has made the following Practice Directions for use from 3 November 2008.

29 October 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Divisional Court - Approved Judgment
The Queen on the application of Debbie Purdy -v - Director of Public Prosecutions - Approved Judgment (PDF 108kb)

29 October 2008
Lord Chief Justice guidance
Direction - Classes of cases specified under section 18(6) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (PDF 41kb)

24 October 2008
Equality in Justice day - speeches at the Royal Courts of Justice in London

24 October 2008
Judicial Communications Office News Release: The Judicial Work Shadowing Scheme (JWSS)
JWSS gives eligible legal practitioners considering a judicial career, either now or at some time in the future, an insight into the working life of a judge

22 October 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Divisional Court - Approved judgment 3
The Queen on the application of Binyan Mohamed - v - Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

22 October 2008
Civil Justice Council: New Pre Action Protocol Launched for Mortgage Possession Cases

21 October 2008
Speech by The Rt Hon Lady Justice Arden DBE
Justice 10th annual Rights Law conference – Building on 10 years of the Human Rights Act: “Building a Better Society” (PDF 132kb)

16 October 2008
President of the Family Division Guidance
McKenzie Friends October 2008 (PDF 37kb)

15 October 2008
Response to Ministry of Justice consultation paper: Bail and Murder

14 October 2008
Response to Ministry of Justice consultation paper
Reforming the Legal Aid Family Barrister Fee Scheme

10 October 2008
Senior judicial appointments announced

10 October 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Administrative Court judgment
Saunders and Tucker – v – The Independent Police Complaints Commission (PDF 268kb)

8 October 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Commercial Court judgment
The Office of Fair Trading –v– Abbey National PLC and others

8 October 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Administrative Court judgment
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – v – The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (PDF 111kb)

6 October 2008
Judicial Appointments Commission Report: High Court – Record number of women judges

6 October 2008
High Court (Family Division) - judgment
L and The Human Fertilisation And Embryology Authority
Full judgment (PDF 152kb) | Schedule to judgment (PDF 41kb)

3 October 2008
Statement from the Judicial Communications Office
Mr Justice Andrew Smith will, barring any unforeseen circumstances, hand down a further judgment in the case of the OFT v Abbey National PLC and others on Wednesday 8 October at 4:30pm. The full judgment will be available on this website shortly after it has been handed down.

No information concerning the contents of the judgment will be available prior to it being handed down in court.

3 October 2008
Remarks at the swearing in of Lord Judge as Lord Chief Justice

30 September 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) - judgment
Limbu and Others (PDF 141kb)

29 September 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Technology And Construction Court judgment
Multiplex Constructions (UK) Limited – and – Cleveland Bridge UK Limited – and – Others (PDF 1.12mb - large file)

25 September 2008
Judicial Communications Office News Release
Opening of the Legal Year – 1 October 2008

4 September 2008
No 10 Press Notice: Appointments to Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court and Lord Justice of Appeal
The Queen has been pleased to approve that The Right Honourable Lord Justice Anthony May be appointed President of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice with effect from 1 October 2008 and that The Honourable Mr Justice Terence Etherton be appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal with effect from 29 September 2008.

4 September 2008
No 10 Press Notice: Sir Igor Judge - Life Peerage
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her intention of conferring a Peerage of the United Kingdom for Life upon The Right Honourable Sir Igor Judge following his appointment as Lord Chief Justice.

29 August 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Divisional Court - Approved Judgment 2
The Queen on the application of Binyan Mohamed - v - Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

29 August 2008
Statement from the Judicial Communications Office
Unduly Lenient Sentence statistics: Statement by Sir Igor Judge

29 August 2008
Amendment No. 21 to the Consolidated Criminal Practice Direction (PDF 59kb)
(Criminal Proceedings: Witness Anonymity Orders; Forms)

27 August 2008
Central Authority Under The Hague Convention
On The Service Abroad Of Judicial And Extrajudicial Documents In Civil Or Commercial Matters (1965) and The Hague Convention On The Taking Of Evidence Abroad In Civil Or Commercial Matters (1970)

21 August 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Divisional Court Judgment
The Queen on the application of Binyan Mohamed - v - Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

13 August 2008
Statement from the Office for Judicial Complaints
James Muir-Little – Office for Judicial Complaints investigation

11 August 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) judgment
Collett -v- Smith and Middlesbrough Football and Athletics Company (1986) Ltd (PDF 172kb)

1 August 2008
Judicial Communications Office News Release
Senior judicial appointments announced

31 July 2008
The Lord Chief Justice - Practice Direction - Court Working Dress
Practice Direction (Court Dress) (no. 5) and Amendment no. 20 to the Consolidated Criminal Practice Direction (Court Dress)

31 July 2008
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) judgment
Re A [A Child: Joint Residence/Parental Responsibility] (PDF 154kb)

29 July 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) judgment
Singh –v– Aberdare Girls' High School

24 July 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) judgment
Max Mosley – v – News Group Newspapers Limited (PDF 251kb)

18 July 2008
High Court (Family Division)
Medway Council Applicant - v - G and Others

16 July 2008
Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Lord Mayor’s Dinner For Judges, Mansion House, London (PDF 78kb)

16 July 2008
Speech by The Rt Hon Lady Justice Arden DBE
The Form of Judgments in Common Law Jurisdictions: A Comparison - Conference in Honour of Lord Bingham (PDF 100kb)

14 July 2008
Judicial Communications Office News Release
Appointment of New Presiding Judge for the Western Circuit

10 July 2008
The Sentencing Commission Working Group Report
The final report of the Sentencing Commission Working Group set up by the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice in December 2007.

8 July 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Decsisions: Mrs A v Hoare

8 July 2008
Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls
Constitutional Justice: Lessons from Magna Carta (PDF 147kb)

7 July 2008
Appointment of New Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

7 July 2008
Appointed of three Lords Justices of Appeal - The Honourable Mr Justice Jackson, The Honourable Mr Justice Goldring and The Honourable Mr Justice Aikens

3 July 2008
Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Equality before the Law - East London Muslim Centre (PDF 79kb)

Related link: News release

30 June 2008
Important message from the Senior President of Tribunals, Sir Robert Carnwath
First Implementation Review

27 June 2008
Speech By Mr Justice Ryder
The Twenty Fifth Anniversary of the Butterworth’s Family Law Service July 2008: The Family Courts of the Future (PDF 92kb)

26 June 2008
Responses to the Sentencing Commission Working Group consultation paper: A Structured Sentencing Framework and Sentencing Commission

25 June 2008
High Court (Court of Protection) judgment
Primary Care Trust and P and others (PDF 72kb)

25 June 2008
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) on Appeal from High Court of Justice Queens Bench Division judgment
Gray v Thames Trains Ltd & Anor [2008] EWCA Civ 713

25 June 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Divisional Court judgment
The Queen (on the application of Wheeler) - v - (1) Office of the Prime Minister (2) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs - and - Speaker of the House of Commons (PDF 105kb)

20 June 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Administrative Court judgment
Mustafa Kamel Mustafa (Otherwise Abu Hamza) - v - (1) The Government of the United States of America (2) Secretary of State for the Home Department (PDF 124kb)

10 June 2008
Speech by The Hon. Sir Jack Beatson FBA
Judicial Independence and Accountability: Pressures and Opportunities (PDF 136kb)

6 June 2008
Speech by The Rt Hon Lady Justice Arden DBE
Address to the Association of Women Barristers’ Annual General Meeting (PDF 40kb)

4 June 2008
The Tribunal Procedure Committee have commenced consultation on rules for the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal. The Consultation closes on 11 July 2008.

2 June 2008
Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
15th Australian Institute of Judicial Administration Oration “Courts Governance” (PDF 76kb)

22 May 2008
Statement from the Judicial Communications Office
Judge Khan and Judge J – Office of Judicial Complaints Investigation

20 May 2008
Report of the Working Group on Access to Environmental Justice (PDF 356kb)

16 May 2008
Two new speeches by Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division

16 May 2008
High Court (Supreme Court of Judicature) Divisional Court
Corporate Officer of the House of Commons –v– The Information Commissioner and others (PDF 79kb)

12 May 2008
Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls
The Second Civil Mediation Council National Conference: The Future of Civil Mediation (PDF 58kb)

12 May 2008
New Judicial Civil Robe
Last July the Lord Chief Justice announced reforms to simplify judicial court working dress in England and Wales. The changes, which include the introduction of a new civil gown, are due to come into effect on 1 October 2008.

9 May 2008
Practice Directions: President of the Family Division guidance
Residence and Contact Orders: Domestic Violence and Harm (PDF 77kb)

7 May 2008
Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Supreme Court and Other Constitutional Changes in the UK (PDF 62kb)

6 May 2008
Speech by Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division
The Voice of the Child: Children’s “rights” in Family Proceedings (PDF 125kb)

28 April 2008
Third Annual Report of the Judges' Council of England and Wales (PDF 322kb)

24 April 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Commercial Court judgment
The Office of Fair Trading –v– Abbey National PLC and 7 others (PDF 536kb)

24 April 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Administrative Court judgment
A, K, M, Q and G –v– HM Treasury (PDF 107kb)

23 April 2008
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) judgment
R -v- Ibrahim and others (PDF 238kb)

18 April 2008
Statement from the Judicial Communications Office
Mr Justice Andrew Smith will, barring any unforeseen circumstances, hand down his judgment in the case of the OFT v Abbey National PLC and others on Thursday 24 April. The full judgment will be available on this website shortly after it has been handed down.

No information concerning the contents of the judgment will be available prior to it being handed down in court.

18 April 2008
Speech by Lord Justice Thomas
The Position of the Judiciaries of the United Kingdom in the Constitutional Changes (PDF 194kb)

18 April 2008
Mr Justice Peter Smith – Office for Judicial Complaints investigation

17 April 2008
President of the Family Division guidance
Appointment of Guardians in accordance with Rule 9.5: President’s guidance dated 25th February 2005 – Revocation (PDF 40kb)

16 April 2008
Responses to Her Majesty's Courts Service consultation paper: Public Law Family Fees

16 April 2008
Responses to Ministry of Justice consultation paper: Forced Marriage (Civil Protection Act) 2007 - relevant Third Party

15 April 2008
Speech by Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls
APIL Annual Conference 2008 (PDF 75kb)

14 April 2008
Speech of Sir Mark Potter President of the Family Division
Launch of the Public Law Outline (PDF 45kb)

14 April 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Administrative Court
Smith –v– Secretary of State for Defence (PDF 106kb)

10 April 2008
Judicial responses to the Goverment's Consultation 'The Governance of Britain: Judicial Appointments'

10 April 2008
Judicial Review Decision
Mohamed Al Fayed v Assistant Deputy Coroner (PDF 44kb)

10 April 2008
High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Administrative Court Judgment
The Queen on the Application of Corner House Research and Campaign Against Arms Trade - and - The Director of the Serious Fraud Office - and - BAE Systems PLC
Summary (PDF 24kb) | Full judgment (PDF 216kb)

9 April 2008
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) judgment
AS & DD (Libya) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and Liberty (PDF 150kb)

9 April 2008
Court of Appeal (Civil Division) judgment
Othman (Jordan) v State for the Home Department (PDF 124kb)

7 April 2008
Speech by Mr Justice Coleridge
Resolution National Conference: "Family Life - Family Justice - Fairness" (PDF 136kb)

2 April 2008
Speech by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Alternative Dispute Resolution: An English Viewpoint (PDF 98kb)

1 April 2008
Mr Justice Stanley Burnton appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Mr Justice Stanley Burnton as a Lord Justice of Appeal. The appointment will take effect from 21 April 2008. He will continue in his role as Head of Modernisation, IT and Estates. He has also been appointed as one of three judicial representatives on the new Board of Her Majesty’s Court Service.

1 April 2008
Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers appointed as senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
The Queen has been pleased to approve that The Right Honourable the Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, be appointed Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, in succession to the Right Honourable The Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG, who retires on 30 September 2008.

1 April 2008
HMCS Framework Document (PDF 1.32mb)
A new Framework Document has been published and a statement made to Parliament putting into effect the partnership agreed earlier this year between the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice.

31 March 2008
The Lord Chief Justice’s Review of the Administration of Justice in the Courts

Related links: English version (PDF 743kb) | Cymraeg (PDF 1.3mb) | Press release

31 March 2008
Consultation paper
A structured sentencing framework and Sentencing Commission

26 March 2008
The Public Law Outline: Guide to Case Management in Public Law Proceedings
English version (PDF 650kb) | Cymreag (PDF 459kb)