Lord Chief Justice’s Annual Report 2021

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, has laid his annual report before Parliament and published it today (Thursday 4 November).

In the report, the Lord Chief Justice reflects on the continuing impact of COVID-19 and the measures put in place to support the justice system. He pays “tribute to the work of the judges, magistrates and all those who support the work of the courts and tribunals for the way in which they rose to the challenges of the pandemic”.

He also highlights the importance of courts in upholding the rule of law, saying; “There has been too little focus on the value that the rule of law, a properly functioning justice system and the courts contribute to the general prosperity of the nation. The direct value of the legal sector, very substantial though it is, is but a small part of the value that a properly functioning administration of justice contributes to our national prosperity. Courts that do their work quickly and efficiently contribute to the prosperity of the nation. The very existence of a properly funded, efficient and effective court system encourages the resolution of disputes because all know that the courts are there to exercise the coercive judicial power of the state”.

The Lord Chief Justice’s Annual Report 2021 can be read in full below.