Lords to take evidence on office of Lord Chancellor
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will this week take evidence on the office of Lord Chancellor from academics specialising in legal and constitutional affairs.
Giving evidence to the committee will be:
- Graham Gee, Lecturer, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham.
- Professor Andrew Le Sueur, Professor of Constitutional Justice, University of Essex.
- Dr Patrick O'Brien, Research Associate, Constitution Unit, University College London.
The evidence session will start at 10.30 am on Wednesday 16 July in committee room 1 of the House of Lords.
Areas the session is expected to cover include:
- What are the current functions of the Lord Chancellor as distinct from the Secretary of State for Justice?
- How does the Lord Chancellor uphold the rule of law and judicial independence and is there anything more he could do in that respect?
- Should the Lord Chancellor be seen as the guardian of legal and constitutional values in government?
- Should the offices of the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice be held by the same person?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the office of Lord Chancellor being held by a lawyer?
- Should there continue to be a Lord Chancellor?
