Lord Mackay to deliver Lord Chancellor Eldon lecture at Northumbria

Lord Mackay of Clashfern, the former Lord Chancellor, is to give a public lecture at Northumbria University, Newcastle.

In his Lord Chancellor Eldon Lecture, on Thursday 27 October, Lord Mackay speak on “Criminal Trial on Indictment in England and Scotland: A comparative view from Hadrian’s Wall”. The lecture will compare and contrast some outstanding features of cases brought on indictment in the two jurisdictions. Lord Mackay will concentrate on present law and practice and will take a topical approach.

Since leaving office in 1997, Lord Mackay has been appointed a Knight of the Thistle and is currently Keeper of the Signet, the ceremonial head of the Society of Writers to HM Signet.

Lucy Winskell, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Northumbria Law School, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to welcome Lord Mackay to the Law School, and there is genuine excitement at the prospect of his public lecture. His record in office at the highest level, and his influence and reputation within the legal profession here in the UK and beyond are unsurpassed. After distinguishing himself at the Scottish bar his remarkable career has included holding the top Government law office position as Lord Advocate and high judicial office as Lord Ordinary in Scotland. He has also held the top cabinet law office role of Lord Chancellor for England.

“It is perhaps fitting for this Eldon Lecture that Lord Mackay was the longest continuously serving Lord Chancellor of Great Britain in the 20th century – just as was Lord Chancellor Eldon in the 19th century.”

Lord Mackay’s lecture is being held at Northumbria Law School from 6pm. For more information and to book a place, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/events