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In the line of duty: a year in the Supreme Court

12 January 2018 / Brice Dickson
Issue: 7776 / Categories: Features , In Court
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The Supreme Court in 2017. Brice Dickson reviews the personnel, judgments & output

2017 was an eventful year for the UK Supreme Court. It began with 11 Justices in post, each deliberating on Gina Miller’s claim that Article 50 of the Treaty for European Union should be triggered by Parliament and not by government. They held in her favour by 8 to 3 ([2017] UKSC 5), affirming the decision of the Divisional Court. The year ended with three new Justices in post, plus a different President and Deputy President.

Lord Neuberger, the outgoing President, retired in September, four months short of his 70th birthday. Lord Clarke retired at the same time, eight months short of his 75th birthday. Lord Neuberger can sit as a member of the supplementary panel of retired judges until 2023. Lord Toulson retired in September 2016 but sat as a supplementary judge on six occasions in early 2017. He delivered the Court’s sole judgment in two cases. Sadly, while undergoing heart surgery in June,

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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