Leadership of the judiciary

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, in a press release dated 31 March 2006, welcomed the new constitutional arrangements which come into force on 3 April 2006 under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

With the implementation of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Lord Chief Justice assumes the leadership of the judiciary of England and Wales, a role that had formerly been part of the responsibilities of the Lord Chancellor. Lord Phillips has established a Judicial Executive Board consisting of the most senior judges and will continue to be advised by the Judges' Council, the judicial forum with members drawn from across the spectrum of judicial office holders, from the Law Lords to the magistracy.

The judiciary will be supported by a new team of officials, the Directorate of Judicial Offices for England and Wales.