Lady Chief Justice gives evidence to House of Lords Constitution Select Committee
Yesterday, the Lady Chief Justice, The Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, gave evidence to the Constitution Select Committee of the House of Lords.
Her main message was of reassurance – of the stability and permanence of the judiciary – during busy and challenging times, while emphasising that stability does not mean standing still. She also paid tribute to the “giants of the judiciary” retiring in 2026, including the Master of the Rolls, President of the King’s Bench Division, and President of the Family Division.
There was discussion on court backlogs, with the Lady Chief Justice pointing to improved performance in the family and civil courts and recognising the continuing pressures in the criminal courts – despite high sitting levels and disposal rates – and in the tribunals. Her evidence touched on the work of the Criminal Courts Improvement Group, including its group on AI, looking at the role it has to play in reducing the backlogs. Her key message was on the importance of cross-system collaboration.
Baroness Carr also gave evidence on the recently announced, judicial-led creation of the Business and Property Division; the importance of the Welsh language and Welsh law; the ongoing recruitment of additional magistrates; and the huge amount of work undertaken by the Judicial College – which supports in training of judges in England and Wales and around the world.
A transcript of the Lady Chief Justice’s evidence can be read in full below, and her appearance can be viewed on Parliament TV.