Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd on being Chief Justice of England and Wales, being a peer in The House of Lords and the role of Judges now and in the future

Lord Thomas was called to the bar in 1969 and after a long and distinguished career became Chief Justice of England and Wales between 2013 and 2017.  In this interview we talk about his early career and what led him to that role and what he is involved in today and what it is like being a peer in the House of Lords.  We also talk about the place of the Judiciary and role of the Judge.  He was the New Zealand Law Foundation’s 2019 Distinguished Visiting Fellow and visited New Zealand in September 2019 where he spoke at the Canterbury University Law School.

In this interview we talk about a variety of topics including constitutional reform, being somewhere where something happens, having a young family and a busy career, changes to the practise of law since he began working, being in Chicago in the late 1960s, what it is like to be a Judge, digitising of the Courts and being involved in Constitutional changes, the role of law schools of the future, as well as joining the House of Lords.

Seeds is all about hearing diverse and varying perspectives and life journeys, which is why this interview fits so well with others even if they cover the life story of a Nun, someone who has been trafficked or someone who is 6 years old.  There are many dozens of interviews in the back catalogue now at www.theseeds.nz 

A very big thanks to The Law Foundation as well as Canterbury University Law School for arranging this interview (in particular, Stephen Todd, Ursula Cheer, Elizabeth Toomey and Julie Scott).

Full Bio: https://arbitratorsinternational.com/arbitrator/lord-thomas-of-cwmgiedd/

Information about the trip: https://www.lawfoundation.org.nz/?p=9731&e=1

From The Law Foundation description:

"Lord Thomas read law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and the University of Chicago Law School and was called to the bar by Gray’s Inn. He practiced at the Commercial Bar in London from 1972 to 1996, becoming a QC in 1984. He was appointed to the High Court of England and Wales in 1996.

He was successively a Presiding Judge in Wales, Judge

in Charge of the Commercial Court, the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales, a Lord Justice of Appeal, President of the

Queen’s Bench Division and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales (2013 - 2017). He was a founder of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary and its President from 2008-2010.

He is currently Chairman of the Commission on Justice in Wales, Chairman of the London Financial Markets Law Committee and President of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre. He also sits in the House of Lords.

He has returned to Essex Court Chambers where he practices as an arbitrator. He is Chancellor of the Aberystwyth University and is an honorary fellow of several universities. He is a founder member of the European Law Institute and is currently a member of its Executive Committee."