Former judges in the UK cannot return to legal practice

06/11/2007

The UK Ministry of Justice has responded to a consultation paper on the convention that prohibits former judges from returning to private practice as barristers or solicitors. That paper raised for discussion the notion that lifting that prohibition would encourage greater diversity in the ranks of the judiciary.

On 5 November 2007 Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw announced that: "The Government consulted widely, considering the arguments both for and against allowing former salaried judges to return to practice. I do not believe there is sufficient evidence that this would achieve a more diverse judiciary and that therefore the arguments against this change outweigh those for. This proposal will not therefore be implemented."

View the media release >� |� View the consultation paper>

6 November 2007