Valedictory ceremony for Lord Carnwath

Valedictory ceremony for Lord Carnwath

Thursday 12 March 2020

09:30
Courtroom 1

A valedictory ceremony marking the retirement of The Right Hon Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill, CVO will take place on Thursday 12 March at 9.30am in Courtroom One.

Lord Carnwath's valedictory ceremony takes place on Thursday 12 March
Lord Carnwath's valedictory ceremony takes place on Thursday 12 March 2020

The ceremony will include remarks by the President of The Supreme Court, The Right Hon Lord Reed of Allermuir, Supreme Court Justice The Right Hon the Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore and Christopher Lockhart-Mummery QC. Lord Carnwath will also say a few words himself. The ceremony will last for approximately 30 minutes.

In keeping with all previous valedictory ceremonies that have taken place at the Supreme Court, Justices will not wear ceremonial robes.

The ceremony will be live streamed on the UKSC website, then available on demand from our YouTube channel the following day.

The Supreme Court building will remain open to the public whilst the ceremony takes place. Members of the public will be welcome to watch the ceremony live on a big screen at the Supreme Court.

Members of the media who would like to attend should email Rebecca Lowson at the following email address:


Robert John Anderson Carnwath, Lord Carnwath of Notting Hill became a Justice of the Supreme Court in April 2012.

After studying law at Trinity College, Cambridge, Lord Carnwath was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1968 and took silk in 1985. He served as Attorney General to the Prince of Wales from 1988 to 1994. He was a judge of the Chancery Division from 1994 to 2002, during which time (1999 to 2002) he was also Chairman of the Law Commission. Lord Carnwath was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2002.

Between 2007 and 2012 he was Senior President of Tribunals and led the planning and implementation of the reforms of the tribunal system following the Leggatt report.

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