New Supreme Court judges sworn in

The nation’s new Supreme Court has been opened with the judges scrapping their ceremonial wigs – but the only lady justice insisted on wearing a hat.

A new regalia was revealed when the 11 judges were sworn in at the new Supreme Court in Parliament Square.

All posed outside the refurbished neo-Gothic building for the media while dressed in their black robes, lavishly threaded with gold.

Gone were the old ceremonial robes and full-bottomed wigs which in the past were worn by the former Law Lords at such occasions, although they dressed in everyday wear when presiding at hearings. They were bare-headed save for Baroness Hale, who wore a flat, black tasselled hat.

Lord Phillips, president of the Supreme Court, said they had discussed whether they should retain their wigs and all the male members of the Supreme Court declined. He said Lady Hale said she wanted a hat as part of her ceremonial outfit.

The day was hailed as a historic landmark for the constitutional and judicial development of the country. It marked the end of a 130-year-old association between the highest court in the land and the House of Lords. There had been mounting calls to separate the highest appeal court from the second house of Parliament, thereby removing the Law Lords from the legislature.

As members of the House of Lords, the Law Lords were entitled not only to sit judicially, but also to join debates and enactment of Government legislation, although in practice they rarely did. But some lawyers believe it is also a giant step towards creating an elected House of Lords.

Paul Stone, senior partner with solicitors DLA Piper, said although the creation of the Supreme Court will move the Law Lords out of the House of Lords, in legal terms it will not change much apart from where they sit. “Of greater significance – and something that has been largely overlooked – is that moving the Law Lords out of the House of Lords will mean that their input into Parliamentary committees and the scrutiny and perspective they bring may be lost.