Senior President of Tribunals

Senior President of Tribunals
The Judiciary of England and Wales
since 19 September 2020
StyleThe Right Honourable
NominatorJudicial Appointments Commission
AppointerMonarch of the United Kingdom,
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor
Inaugural holderLord Justice Carnwarth
Formation19 July 2007
Websitehttps://www.judiciary.uk/about-the-judiciary/lord-chief-justice/

The Senior President of Tribunals is a senior judge in the United Kingdom who presides over the UK tribunal system. The Senior President is appointed by the monarch of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Lord Chancellor[1] following the recommendation of an independent selection panel under the auspices of the Judicial Appointments Commission.[2][3] Lord Justice Carnwath was appointed as the first holder of the post on 12 November 2007.[4] The Senior President must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a seven-year basis, or have had similar experience in Scotland or Northern Ireland.[5] The Senior President must have regard to the need for the following:[6]

  • Tribunals to be accessible
  • Proceedings before tribunals to be fair and handled quickly and efficiently
  • Members of tribunals to be experts in the subject-matter of, or the law to be applied in, cases in which they decide matters—and the need to develop innovative methods of resolving disputes that are of a type that may be brought before tribunals.

The Senior President of Tribunals can make representations to the Parliament of the United Kingdom about tribunal members and the administration of justice by tribunals. The Senior President can also represent the views of tribunal members to Parliament, the Lord Chancellor and government ministers.[7]

  1. ^ Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, s.2(2) and Sch.1 paras.1-2.
  2. ^ "Senior President of Tribunals". judiciary.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Appointment of the Senior President of Tribunals". judiciary.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Senior President hails the quiet evolution of Tribunals". Judicial Communications Office. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  5. ^ Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, Sch.1 para.3.
  6. ^ Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, s.2(3).
  7. ^ Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, Sch.1 paras. 13-14.