The Law Lords: Reflections on the new United Kingdom Supreme Court and 21st century constitutional change

Sir Anthony Clarke, Master of the Rolls, looks at the history of the Law Lords.

“The reform of the Law Lords and creation of the new UK Supreme Court is in some ways one of the most significant constitutional reforms of recent years. As such however it can be seen as just one more step down a long road which began in England in the Middle Ages with the separation of the common law courts from the Aula Regis or King’s Council. That constitutional development and reform in England and Wales, and later in the United Kingdom, has been long, continuous and Fabian. It is one of the great strengths of our constitution. This latest step will in my mind only serve to increase the respect in which the Law Lords - the Supreme Court to be - is rightly held both here and around the world.”