Judicial Independence and Accountability: Pressures and opportunities

Mr Justice Beatson covered the “quiet constitutional upheaval” since 1998 and the enactment of the Human Rights Act and devolution for Scotland and Wales.

In particular, he focused on the changes since 2003, the abolition of the office of Lord Chancellor and the legislation making the judiciary officially independent of government.

“The pressure on the judiciary is to behave in ways which risk making it just another player in the political process. The opportunity is to fashion a constitutional role that is appropriate in a modern democracy.”