Recently I was asked to step outside my comfort zone of banging on about corporate law to speak at a panel debate about the rising political and constitutional role of the judiciary (I suggested they get someone better, but they asked twice). It was an interesting experience, not least because of the recent launch of the Supreme Court and the prospect of a Conservative Government overhauling constitutional statutes. Anyway, for what it’s worth, below is the introductory speech I wrote for the debate, with a couple of tweaks for the written form.
I’m sceptical about the idea that judges are lording it over politicians and the country, but it is undeniable that the judiciary has assumed a much more political role in England and Wales over the last 30 years.
