A new chapter in legal history began today, 1 October 2009, when the new Supreme Court of the UK opened for business.
The new Court, at Middlesex Guildhall in London’s Parliament Square, replaces the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the site of Britain’s highest court.
The building has undergone extensive renovation.
The former Law Lords will be known as Justices of the Supreme Court, and will be headed by Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, President of the Supreme Court.
The new Justices gathered in Court 1 at 10am, wearing their Supreme Court ceremonial robes, to be sworn in and take the Oath of Allegiance and the Judicial Oath.
They then formed a procession to cross the road from the Court to Westminster Abbey to attend the annual service that marks the start of the legal year in England and Wales.
Lord Phillips said: “For the first time, we have a clear separation of powers between the legislature, the judiciary and the executive in the United Kingdom.
This is important. It emphasises
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