Lord Chief Justice to discuss pandemic and beyond with Lords
Tuesday 25 May 2021
In its annual evidence session with the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales tomorrow (Wednesday 26 May), the House of Lords Constitution Committee will explore several topics, including the pandemic’s impact on the courts, virtual proceedings, legal aid, and public perceptions of the courts.
The committee will hear from Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Burnett of Maldon, at 10.15am and the session can be followed live on Parliament TV.
Questions the committee is likely to ask include:
- What major challenges do you think the courts of England and Wales will continue to face over the coming year, and what are your priorities as Lord Chief Justice in this respect?
- To what extent are Nightingale Courts having an impact on the backlog of cases? Is sufficient information available to determine their efficacy?
- What steps are being taken to ensure that adequate training and guidance on remote hearings is available to all members of the judiciary?
- Is adequate funding being made available for the HMCTS modernisation programme?
- What impact has the fall in Government funding for the justice system had on access to justice?
- Is there anything that can usefully be done to strengthen the relationship between the judiciary, parliament and the executive?
