Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Stephens appointed to the UK Supreme Court

Northern Ireland Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Stephens has been appointed to the UK Supreme Court
Northern Ireland Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Stephens has been appointed to the UK Supreme Court Northern Ireland Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Stephens has been appointed to the UK Supreme Court

NORTHERN Ireland Appeal Court judge Lord Justice Stephens will succeed Lord Kerr onto the Supreme Court when he retires in October.

In May, the Irish News revealed Lord Chief Justice Declan Morgan would not be appointed in line with tradition because he had been named as a member of the selection commission for the vacancy.

The appointment of Lord Justice Stephens ensures there will be no vacuum in knowledge and practice of Northern Ireland law following Lord Kerr's departure.

Lord Reed, President of the Supreme Court, said his fellow judges "look forward to his making a significant contribution to the work of the court and the development of the law, drawing on the extensive experience which he has gained from a distinguished judicial career".

Sir Ben Stephens was appointed as a High Court Judge in 2007 and was Hague Convention Liaison judge for international cases involving child abduction between 2008 and 2014.

He was appointed Senior Lord Justice of Appeal in September 2017.

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