The creation of the Ministry of Justice this week raises important issues of principle, according to senior members of the judiciary.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, says a working group composed of senior judges and senior government officials has met regularly since 21 March 2007 with the aim of putting in place constitutional safeguards to protect the independence of the judiciary and the proper administration of justice. “We have not yet reached agreement on a way forward,” he says. “We will continue with our discussions with the government in our attempt to resolve the important issues of principle that remain.”
