Define: Law Lord

Law Lords were senior judges in the United Kingdom who held membership in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of Parliament. Historically, they played a significant role in the judicial process, serving as the highest court of appeal in the UK until the establishment of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2009. Law Lords were appointed from among the most distinguished judges, typically from the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, and were responsible for hearing appeals on important legal issues and providing authoritative interpretations of the law. Their decisions helped shape the development of legal principles and precedents in the UK. Following the creation of the Supreme Court, the role of Law Lords was abolished, and the justices of the Supreme Court assumed their responsibilities as the final court of appeal in the UK.

The ‘law lords’ (technically Lords of Appeal in Ordinary) are the senior judges that sit in the House of lords and act as the ultimate appeal authority for the UK courts (see: Court system of England).

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This glossary post was last updated: 29th March, 2024.