上议院的法官们

英国的上议院很特殊，其中最大的与众不同之处在于，除了作为立法机关外，它同时是英国的最高等级的法院，实际上，并非所有的上议院议员都参与审理案件，这只是现任的法律勋爵的工作。这些法律勋爵（Law Lords）实际是这个国家最高等级的法官，他们以上议院的名义审理并对案件作出裁判。通常，每个案件中大约有三名或五名勋爵出席审理。也有一种翻译方法，称呼他们作："常任上诉法官"。确实如此，他们并非是从议员中遴选，而是从优秀的法官、律师和法学教授中选出。大概从1830年代，非常任上诉法官就不再参与审理案件。当时有一个上议院议员，他的父亲在法律方面颇有名声，那次他不自量力地参加了审理，但他的发言没有被在判决书中提及，也许这是一种警告，法律是如此重要，以致她不能容忍外行，无论他父亲是谁。现在，就连上议院议长也明确申明他不参加案件的审理。普通法是英语法，是案件法，是法官法。上议院的法律勋爵，就是这个国家的司法核心。如果涉及到海外领地，或者英联邦国家的上诉，往往由上议院的数名法律勋爵加上该国的法官，组成枢密院司法委员会来审理案件。这一制度仍然在实行。

The House of Lords, in addition to having a legislative function, has a judicial function as a court of last resort within the United Kingdom. Historically, the House of Lords also functioned as a court of first instance for the trials of peers and for impeachment cases. Today, the House's jurisdiction is essentially limited to the hearing of appeals from the lower courts. Appeals are technically not to the House of Lords, but rather to the Queen-in-Parliament. By constitutional convention judges known as the Law Lords, rather than all of the Lords, hear the appeals.

List of Lords of Appeal (as at December 2004)
Lord Chancellor (and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs)

Falconer of Thoroton, L.

NB Lord Falconer has indicated that he does not intend to participate in the judicial business of the House.

Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (‘Law Lords') in order of seniority:
Bingham of Cornhill, L. (Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary)
Nicholls of Birkenhead, L. (Second senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary)
Steyn, L.
Hoffmann, L.
Hope of Craighead, L.
Saville of Newdigate, L.
Scott of Foscote, L.
Rodger of Earlsferry, L.
Walker of Gestingthorpe, L.
Hale of Richmond, B.
Carswell, L.
Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood, L.

Other Lords of Appeal

These are Lords who hold or have held high judicial office as defined by the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876. Of these, the following are eligible to hear appeals:

(The symbol + indicates a former Lord of Appeal in Ordinary)

+ Browne-Wilkinson, L. (30 March 2005)
Cameron of Lochbroom, L. (11 June 2006)
+ Clyde, L. (29 January 2007)
Cullen of Whitekirk, L. (18 November 2010)
Hardie, L. (8 January 2016)
+ Hutton, L. (29 June 2006)
Irvine of Lairg, L. (23 June 2015)
Mackay of Drumadoon, L. (30 January 2016)
+ Millett, L. (23 June 2007)
+ Mustill, L. (10 May 2006)
+ Phillips of Worth Matravers, L. (Master of the Rolls) (21 January 2013)
+ Slynn of Hadley, L. (17 February 2005)
+ Woolf, L. (Lord Chief Justice) (2 May 2008)

The date in brackets is the date after which the Lord of Appeal is disqualified from participating in judicial business. The date is set by the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993.


The following Lords of Appeal, having reached the statutory age limit, do not participate in judicial business:

+ Ackner, L.
+ Bridge of Harwich, L.
+ Brightman, L.
Cooke of Thorndon, L.
Donaldson of Lymington, L.
+ Goff of Chieveley, L.
+ Griffiths, L.
+ Jauncey of Tullichettle, L.
+ Lane, L.
+ Lloyd of Berwick, L.
+ Mackay of Clashfern, L.
McCluskey, L.
+ Nolan, L.
+ Oliver of Aylmerton, L.
+ Simon of Glaisdale, L.
+ Templeman, L.
+ former Lord of Appeal in Ordinary