Scots one-two at Supreme Court as Lord Hodge named Deputy President
Scots judges will fill the top two positions at the UK Supreme Court following the announcement today of Lord Hodge's appointment as Deputy President.
The Queen made the appointment on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, following the recommendation of an independent selection commission.
Earlier this month Lord Reed stepped up from Deputy President to succeed Lady Hale as President of the court. He and Lord Hodge are the two Scottish Justices on the 12-strong court.
Lord Hodge became a Justice of the Supreme Court in October 2013. Admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1983 and appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1996, he became a Court of Session judge in 2005, sitting latterly as the Scottish judge in exchequer causes and one of the Scottish intellectual property judges. He was also a judge in the Lands Valuation Appeal Court and a commercial judge.
As Deputy President he will work alongside the President to oversee the judicial work of the court, and liaise 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 Hodge will be sworn in at a special ceremony on a date to be announced.
Welcoming the appointment, Lord Reed commented: "I am delighted to congratulate and welcome Lord Hodge on his appointment as Deputy President of the court. He has made an important contribution to the work of the court since his appointment in 2013, and his previous experience of judicial administration will stand him in good stead as our Deputy President. I am looking forward very much to working with him in his new role."
Lord Hodge responded: "It has been a great privilege to have served on the Supreme Court since 2013 and it is a great privilege to have been chosen to follow Lord Reed as Deputy President of the court. I feel honoured to have this opportunity and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues from each of the jurisdictions of the United Kingdom in upholding the rule of law."
Reacting to the news, Gordon Jackson QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, said: "What a wonderful tribute this is to the Scottish legal profession, that we have people of such calibre that they can attain the highest judicial offices in the UK. I have no doubt that the Supreme Court will go from strength to strength with Lord Reed and Lord Hodge at the helm. Both are exceptional lawyers and the Faculty is very proud of their achievements."