Final House of Lords judgments
30 July 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
The final House of Lords judgments were delivered by the Law Lords on 30 July in the House of Lords Chamber. Marking the unique proceedings, all 12 Law Lords were present.
Giving judgments on seven cases, they ruled on points of law including:
- allowing clarification of the law on assisted suicide in the case of Debbie Purdy, a sufferer of incurable, progressive multiple sclerosis, and
- ruling former Procul Harum organist, Mr Fisher, is entitled to a share of future royalties in the song 'A Whiter Shade of Pale'.
Watch the final House of Lords judgments in the Lords Chamber on ParliamentLive.
Read the final House of Lords judgments:
- Moore Stephens (a firm) (Respondents) v Stone Rolls Limited (in liquidation) (Appellants) - concerning a duty owed by auditors
- Lexington Insurance Company (Respondents) v AGF Insurance Limited (Appellants) and one other action and Lexington Insurance Company (Respondents) v Wasa Insurance Company Limited (Appellants) and one other action - concerning a term in a contract of reinsurance
- Fisher (Original Appellant and Cross-respondent) v Brooker and others (Original Respondents and Cross-appellants) - on a claim for authorship and copyright in Procul Harum's song ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’
- R v Cooper (Respondent) (On appeal from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)) - interpretation of the test for capacity to consent or to refuse a sexual touching
- Masri (Respondent) v Consolidated Contractors International Company SAL and others and another (Appellant) another - the power to make orders against foreign directors for the examination of foreign assets
- Transport for London (London Underground Limited) (Appellants) v Spirerose Limited (in administration) (Respondents) - compensation for compulsory acquisition of land under the Land Compensation Act 1961
- R (on the application of Purdy) (Appellant) v Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent) - concerning clarification as to whether the husband of a sufferer of incurable, progressive multiple sclerosis would be prosecuted should he help his wife to die
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
From 1 October 2009, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom assumes jurisdiction on points of law for all civil law cases in the UK and all criminal cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
Applications for leave to appeal
Applications for leave to appeal will still be received by the Supreme Court before 1 October.
Rules and Practice Directions
The Supreme Court Rules 2009 set out the procedure to be followed in the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
Hard copies of the Practice Directions are available from the Registry on 020 7960 1991/1992.
Contact the Supreme Court for further information
- Tel: 020 7960 1900
- Fax: 020 7960 1901
- http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk
Justices of the Supreme Court
The current Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (the Law Lords) will be the first justices of the 12-member Supreme Court and are disqualified from sitting or voting in the House of Lords. When they retire from the Supreme Court they can return to the House of Lords as full Members but newly-appointed Justices of the Supreme Court will not have seats in the House of Lords.
Further information
- House of Lords judgments
- Parliament News: Final House of Lords judicial business
- Parliament News: From House of Lords to Supreme Court
- YouTube: From House of Lords to Supreme Court - exclusive footage of a Law Lord on the judicial changes