Lord Reed to be UK Supreme Court Deputy President

Lord Reed, one of the two Scottish Justices of the UK Supreme Court, has been appointed Deputy President of the Court, it was announced today.

He will succeed Lord Mance, who retires on Wednesday 6 June after serving for four years as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, then eight years as a Justice of the Supreme Court, and finally as its Deputy President since September 2017.

Lord Reed was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court in February 2012. From 2008 to 2012 he was a member of the Inner House of the Court of Session, and from 1998 to 2008 a judge in the Outer House of the Court of Session, where he was the principal commercial judge.

He studied law at Edinburgh University and undertook doctoral research in law at the University of Oxford. He qualified both as an advocate in Scotland and as a barrister in England, and practised at the Scottish bar in a wide range of civil cases, as well as prosecuting serious crime.

He is also a member of the panel of ad hoc judges of the European Court of Human Rights, and a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong. In addition he is the Visitor of Balliol College, Oxford.

The role of Deputy President involves working alongside the President to oversee the judicial work of the court, and liaising closely with the chief executive who manages the court’s administration. The Deputy President also shares a wider leadership and ambassadorial role with the President, undertaking a range of engagements to promote understanding of the role of the judiciary and senior appellate courts in the UK and to foster international links.

Lord Reed is the second Scottish judge to hold the position: Lord Hope of Craighead was the court's first Deputy President until his retirement in 2013.

Responding to his appointment Lord Reed commented: “It is a great honour to succeed Lord Mance as Deputy President of the Supreme Court. I look forward to working with Lady Hale in providing leadership to the court. I am committed to promoting the court’s role and activities, both in our national life and internationally.”

Lady Hale welcomed the appointment, adding: “I am delighted to congratulate and welcome Lord Reed on his appointment as Deputy President of the Court. He is a most distinguished and deeply principled jurist. Since joining the court in 2012 he has made a significant contribution in many areas, but in particular in developing the common law and championing the rule of law and access to justice. I am confident that the court will be well served by his appointment and that together we will make a great team.”

The appointment was made by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, following the recommendation of an independent selection commission.

Details of Lord Reed’s swearing-in ceremony will be announced in due course.