Lord Chancellor, evidence, constitution committee
Lords to take evidence from former senior judges
28 July 2014
On Wednesday 30 July the House of Lords Constitution Committee will take evidence from former senior judges Lord Hope of Craighead, Lord Judge and Lord Woolf. Their evidence will form part of the committee's inquiry into the office of Lord Chancellor.
Witnesses
Wednesday 30 July at 10:30am, Committee Room 1, Palace of Westminster:
- Lord Hope of Craighead – former Law Lord and Deputy President of the Supreme Court
- Lord Judge – former Lord Chief Justice
- Lord Woolf – former Lord Chief Justice and Master of the Rolls.
Possible questions
The Committee will ask the witnesses about a range of issues, including:
- How effective has the Concordat between the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice been?
- How frequently do the senior judiciary discuss issues relating to the rule of law and judicial independence with the Lord Chancellor?
- What contact do the senior judiciary have with the Law Officers outside of court?
- Are appropriate mechanisms in place to allow the judiciary to communicate with Parliament? Are such communications ever channelled through the Lord Chancellor?
- Should the offices of Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice be held by the same person?
- Is the personality and political weight of the minister responsible for the rule of law and judicial independence more important than his or her formal position as Lord Chancellor?