Longest reigning chief justice since 1992 confirms intention to step down next year
The lord chief justice of England and Wales has announced plans to step down from his post next year.
It was announced this morning that The Rt Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon will leave his position as lord chief justice on 30 September 2023. He has been in the role since October 2017 making him the longest serving lord chief justice since Lord Lane who served for 12 years.
Burnett put out a statement which read:
“It has been a great privilege to serve as Lord Chief Justice. I have been honoured to lead a wholly independent judiciary dedicated to the rule of law, the administration of justice and public service which confidently celebrates its traditions yet has quietly assimilated very many modern working practices. We have transformed judicial welfare and education and introduced professional support which was lacking in the old arrangements inherited from the Lord Chancellor’s Department by the Judicial Office. We have become much more active in local communities and schools and have a diversity and inclusion strategy which will continue to deliver results.”
Burnett outlined the progress he believes has been made under his reign and his priorities before he leaves his position, as he added:
“Our focus recently has been on reducing outstanding caseloads across all jurisdictions working closely with relevant major players to deal with more cases with the available resources.
We persuaded successive Lord Chancellors and Government that the technical changes made to judicial pensions had produced the adverse effects on recruitment predicted by my predecessors. By mid-2019 the need for change had been accepted and the resulting legislation finally received Royal Assent earlier this year. There remain difficulties in recruiting to some judicial offices which is the subject of ongoing work.
There is much to do before I leave office. I shall continue to work constructively with all those whose contributions are vital to the administration of justice. I look forward to continuing to provide service after I leave this role working at a less frenetic pace.”
Burnett’s successor will be announced next summer.