High Principle, Low Politics, and the Emergence of the Supreme Court Paperback – 16 Sept. 2019

Frederic Reynold provides a detailed factual account of the debates and the consultations conducted under the New Labour government that led to the creation of the new Supreme Court in 2009. He also refers to the constitutional arguments surrounding the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary etc. But the book is, to my mind excessively factual and descriptive and cries out for some argument and comment. Although Reynold says that he conducted a number of interviews with interested parties, he provides almost no details of who these individuals were or what the interviews entailed. Nor does he discuss the very important academic research and writing on the subject (e.g. Alan Paterson, Brice Dickson, Andrew Le Sueur). And Reynold's concluding observations about the approach taken by the Justices in a few of the cases dealt with under the new regime are, to say the least, superficial.For these reasons, I found this account of the history of the Supreme Court very disappointing. particularly as the author himself asks in his final sentence: "what on earth was all the fuss about!?"

This is a close-up view of The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was created. Reynold QC knows some of the leading characters in the sag although he does not name his friends. This is also a ten-year review of the momentous change in the most venerable legal institution in the UK, a change that Reynold describes as seamlessly inserted into the constitutional fabric of the land. Hitherto, the highest court of the UK was known as the House of Lords, although it was really the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords. It was presided by the Lord Chancellor, who was like Cerberus in that he is not of one but three heads – he was the head of the Judiciary, the Speaker of the House of Lords, and also, a high-level cabinet member. Sometime in 2001, Lord Bingham gave a lecture sponsored by Justice, an organisation committed to strengthening the justice system, in which he suggested that the UK create a supreme court and move it physically to a building outside the confines of the legislature building where the House of Lords then occupied.

No critical analysis of the idea of a Supreme Court. Lazy assumptions that it is self evidently a good one. The liberal legal establishment in full self congratulatory mode.

IDEAL FOR THE MODERN LAW STUDENT UNRAVELLING THE TRUE ROLE OF THE UK SUPREME COURT AS IT COMES OF AGEAn appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and MediatorThis book arrives at just the right time (autumn 2019) with the most magnificent of decisions from the UK Supreme Court in Miller v The Prime Minister. What a coup for Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing with Boris perpetually on the ropes at the hands of the top judges! Our United Kingdom Supreme Court (UKSC) has now been in existence for ten years and appears to have seamlessly become part of the fabric of our legal system.We were delighted to see that this short title “High Principle, Low Politics and the Emergence of the Supreme Court” from Frederic Reynold tells “the remarkable story, full of twists and turns, of how and why this court came to be created”. The book has three parts: (1) “a rumbling campaign and a startling outcome”; (2) “‘purists’ versus ‘pragmatists’- an arcane parliamentary battle”; (3) “the court emerges”. The appendix at the back has a short statement on “a new supreme court for the United Kingdom” by Lord Bingham from 1st May 2002 which was “The Constitution Unit Spring Lecture 2002”.In producing this surprisingly incisive commentary, the writer taps into a rich traditional “seam of social and political history” which is misunderstood by so many people hence the great value of the book. Reynold gives us a special insight which is thankfully free of legal jargon and an easy read for the novice and the experienced. It explains how the UKSC has “performed” in the light of both the fears and the expectations which greeted its arrival. And for many of us within the legal profession and the political world, we are delighted to see the new direction the top court is moving towards when it comes to the mixture of “policy” and “the law”.Reynold declares that he has “known personally some of the main characters in the story” (as many readers may also have known). He has had a long and distinguished career at the Bar, appearing in many landmark cases in different areas of the law. His excellent and detailed memoir, “Chance, Cheek and Some Heroics” was published in 2018, and “proved very popular” as is to be expected from such a distinguished professional who identifies so well with his subject.The paperback book was first published on 26th September 2019.