Work of the Law Lords
22 July 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, the Leader of the Lords, introduced a motion of appreciation on the contribution of the Law Lords - and all those who have assisted or served in the House in a judicial capacity - to the work of the House of Lords.
After 30 July, the judicial function of the House of Lords as the highest court of appeal in the UK ends and a new United Kingdom Supreme Court, separating the judicial function from Parliament, opens in early October 2009.
The Law Lords (Lords of Appeal in Ordinary) are highly qualified, full-time judges who carry out the judicial work of the House of Lords. The current 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
External link