Vote now: Choose your next Supreme Court judge

Will there be a surprise UK Supreme Court candidate from the left-field like Jonathan Sumption QC in 2011? Perhaps One Essex Court’s Lord Grabiner QC or Blackstone Chambers’ Lord Pannick QC?

It’s unlikely, say lawyers, who believe a more predictable hat-trick of names will shuffle up the judicial ladder.

By the start of 2013 we should know who is going to fill the shoes of Lord Dyson, who has become Master of the Rolls, and the retiring Lords Walker and Hope (16 October 2012).

The merry-go-round was kick-started with former Supreme Court president Lord Phillips announcing his exit to take up the most senior position with the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (9 May 2012). With Lord Neuberger replacing him, Dyson SCJ filled the Master of the Rolls position.

Now, for the first time in its short history, the Supreme Court has gone with a triple hiring process. As it is embacing modern times perhaps it should just go the whole hog and have a public vote, X Factor style? The Lawyer has already received two nominations for Privy Council member Lord Justice Sir Patrick Elias - get your suggestions in quick before lines close on 30 October. No charges apply.

——————————————————————————————————

Elsewhere in litigation, it has been a very newsy week, with Hillsborough victims’ families seeking an independent lawyer to oversee fresh investigations, and RJW busying itself with not one, but two major cases. Partner Liz Dux is preparing to sue the BBC on behalf of several alleged Jimmy Savile victims and litigation chief Fraser Whitehead is collecting interest rate mis-selling instructions like they’re going out of fashion.

Clearly, litigation remains bang on trend.