The Civil Court Practice 2009; The Supreme Court Rules and Practice Directions and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Rules and Practice Directions

The UK Supreme Court was established by Part 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and officially comes into being on 1 October 2009. As you know, it replaces House of Lords in its judicial capacity and assumes the jurisdiction of the House of Lords under the Appellate Jurisdiction Acts 1876 and 1888. The Supreme Court will, with a few exceptions, be the final court of appeal in the United Kingdom. This is a huge change to the practice of law in the UK. The Supreme Court will also have jurisdiction in relation to devolution matters under the Scotland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland Act 1988 and the Government of Wales Act 2006; this was transferred to the Supreme Court from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. To prepare all Civil Practitioners for the changes, The Civil Court Practice (The Green Book) is publishing an exclusive ‘Special Issue’ in August to be given free to current Green Book subscribers which will contain the rules and commentary on the new Supreme Court which opens for business on 1st October 2009 and the rules and commentary on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.