The Right Honourable Alex Norris MP has been sworn in as Lord Chancellor. The ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice took place on the first day of the new legal year (1 October) and follows his appointment as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice in July. He was previously Minister of State at the Home Office.
The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, conducted the swearing in ceremony. She said:
“[You] have a deep understanding of every government’s first duty: to protect its citizens.“
She continued: “Taking the oath here, today, once more affirms – publicly – the particular, the fundamental relationship that the Lord Chancellor has with the judiciary, and the office’s statutory duty to defend judicial independence.“
The Lady Chief Justice also swore in the Attorney General, The Right Honourable Ellie Reeves MP, who was previously Solicitor General.
In addition, Andy Slaughter MP was sworn in as Solicitor General.
You can read the Lady Chief Justice’s speech in full below.
The roles of the Lord Chancellor, Attorney General and Solicitor General
The ancient office of Lord Chancellor has an active and significant constitutional function in maintaining the rule of law. As part of this, Lord Chancellors must defend the independent judiciary and ensure they have the necessary support to carry out their work.
Historically able to decide cases as a judge themselves, the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act modified the post of Lord Chancellor so that they are no longer a judge, and transferred active judicial functions to the judiciary, especially the Lady Chief Justice, with whom some other powers are shared. This enhanced the separation of powers. The Office of Lord Chancellor continues to have important responsibilities for defending the rule of law within government.
The Attorney General is chief legal adviser to the Crown, oversees the Law Officers’ departments, and amongst other duties is responsible for providing legal advice to the government, and the governments’ work in promoting the rule of law at home and internationally. The Solicitor General supports the Attorney General in carrying out their functions including promoting the rule of law.
You can find out more about our justice system and the history of the judiciary on our website.
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