Middle Temple Historical Society | The Abolition of the Judicial Function of the House of Lords

The Middle Temple Historical Society will be hosting a lecture on the abolition of the judicial function of the House of Lords. 

In 2005, the then Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Lord Falconer of Thoroton PC KC, made history by announcing the abolition of the House of Lords’ judicial functions and the creation of the UK Supreme Court — a constitutional transformation enacted through the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Act, the Middle Temple Historical Society has invited Lord Falconer to deliver a 30 minute lecture at Middle Temple outlining the salient political and legal considerations that shaped the Blair government’s decision-making process in the run-up to the announcement.

Following the lecture, Professor Lindsay Stirton (University of Sussex) will chair a panel featuring Lord Falconer and Rt Hon Lord Mance of Frognal, who served as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary during this pivotal period and later became the Deputy President of the Supreme Court in September 2017.

This series of occasional lectures on the history of the courts was commenced by the magnificent lecture delivered to the Society by Rt Hon Lord Hope of Craighead, the first Deputy President of the Supreme Court in March 2024. The Middle Temple Historical Society is delighted that Lord Hope has generously agreed to return to Middle Temple to offer his own observations on the lecture and panel discussion to conclude the evening.

This rare gathering brings together key architects and witnesses of one of the most significant constitutional reforms in modern British history. It proffers an opportunity to gain unique insights into how this transformation of the UK’s highest court came about, and its on-going and lasting impact on our legal system.

Students/Hall Members/Benchers: Guests welcome

Members of other Inns and their guests also welcome - contact the Treasury Office by calling 020 7427 4800 to book.

Members of the Society who are not members of the Inn: contact the Treasury Office by calling 020 7427 4800 to book.

If you have any dietary requirements, please contact members@middletemple no later than three working days prior to the event.

Further details of the QS Requirements and how to be credited with the QS for this session

Learning Aims:

After this session, students should be able to:

• Understand the political and legal considerations that influenced the Blair government's decision to abolish the House of Lords’ judicial functions and establish the UK Supreme Court through the Constitutional Reform Act 2005
• Appreciate the constitutional significance of separating the UK’s highest court from Parliament, including its impact on the doctrine of separation of powers and judicial independence; and, why the government of the day chose not to adopt the US model of a Supreme Court and/or incorporate aspects of the “Constitutional Court” approach seen in several European countries at that time.

Links to the Professional Statement, wider workings of the Bar, administration of justice or a public interest matter

The QS will align with these elements of the Professional Statement:

1

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