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This lecture explores the origin and development of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The court was established in 2009 by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. It is an independent court of appeal that replaced the House of Lords as the highest appellate court in the United Kingdom (other than for Scottish Criminal cases). The move was a milestone in the constitutional history of the United Kingdom. It separated the powers exercised by the judiciary and the upper house of parliament in the country. Symbolically, the court sits alongside, but separate to, the executive and legislative arms of the state. Lord Phillips, as the first President of the Supreme Court explains the history behind the development of the court. He touches on foundational concepts such as the separation of powers, and provides insight on the organisation and structure of the court as it exists today. He considers some of the key cases that have come before the court and the dialogue between the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Lectures on the Supreme Court will be given at the Universities of Auckland, Victoria and Canterbury.

This lecture examines the approach taken towards the European Convention on Human Rights in Strasbourg and in the United Kingdom. More specifically, it considers how the British Parliament has given domestic effect to the Convention under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the way in which the Supreme Court has interpreted the relevant provisions of that Act. Key cases where the Strasbourg Court has extended the reach of the Act beyond the agreement of the signatories to the Convention or where the court has differed from the considered views of the House of Lords and the Supreme Court are considered. Recent developments including the possible movement away from the Convention and towards British Bill of Rights are also considered. Lord Phillips’ lectures on Human Rights will be given at the universities of AUT, Waikato and Otago.

This lecture critically considers the origin and development of a trial by jury in the United Kingdom. Lord Phillips examines some key changes in the law including the process of jury selection and the requirement of majority verdicts. A specific focus is given to the development of restrictions that have been placed on the evidence that can be put before a jury in relation to bad character evidence. The principle that the jury should make a decision on the evidence placed before them is an important one and here he considers the problems that arise with the jury and the media. More broadly, he considers the fundamental value of a trial by jury and the extent to which they can be trusted to arrive at the right decision. This lecture will be given to law students in all law schools Lord Phillips visits.

This lecture will explore the use closed material evidence by courts in the United Kingdom. Closed material is evidence that is relied upon by the court without disclosure to one of the parties. There are a number of proceedings where closed material proceedings have been used in the context of national security, criminal and quasi criminal proceedings. This lecture will consider some significant cases where closed material has been utilised and scrutinised by the courts. The compatibility of closed material proceedings with the principals of natural justice is also considered, along with the recent Government proposal to enact legislation to extend the use of closed material to civil proceedings. This lecture will be given to legal academics in all law schools Lord Phillips visits.