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Sumption, Wilson confirmed as new Supreme Court justices

The whole thing is a disgrace. Even Baroness Deech, the Head of the Bar Standards Board no less, has gone on record to say that it is entirely inappropriate for Sumption to act for Abramovich (see http://lordsoftheblog.net/2011/04/20/law-lords/), stating "how can such a case be heard without any appearance of conflict, if the judge hearing it knows that the barrister presenting arguments to him is soon to be in the Supreme Court, hearing appeals against those lower court hearings?" How indeed?! And that was before the appointment was formally announced. How much worse is the appearance of conflict now that the worst kept secret at the Bar is finally out? This is all particularly disappointing, as Sumption must have applied for the vacant position in the Supreme Court before accepting this most lucrative of briefs and then arranged for his appointment to be deferred. This sordid episode does our legal system no credit at all.

4-May-2011

10:40 pm