I also look forward to reviewing very carefully the recommendations made by Sir Christopher Bellamy in the Independent Review of Legal Aid in Criminal Matters in order to be able to respond to them in a timely manner. In accordance with the principles of transparency and accountability adhered to by JSC, the Chief Justice`s speech at the beginning of the 2021 legal year will be made available to stakeholders and the public through the appropriate media channels on Monday, January 11, 2021. The legal year 2021 begins on January 11, 2021 and coincides with the beginning of the judicial calendar 2021 published in General Notices 2444-2447 of 2020 in the Official Journal of September 18, 2020. Over the past year, your tenacity and hard work have allowed our justice system to continue to work under the unprecedented pressures you have faced due to COVID-19. I`m just sorry that the celebrations had to be scaled back this year, but I hope colleagues from all jurisdictions can join us in 2022. Due to the current situation of the thirty (30) day National Lockdown of Phase IV imposed under the Public Health Regulation (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) 2021 (No. 9) (published in Regulatory Instrument 10 of 2021) to prevent, control and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announces that the traditional opening ceremony of the judicial year will not have place. Create a prison system that adequately rehabilitates criminals and prepares them for outdoor living, thereby reducing recidivism. Increase judicial capacity through innovation that can deliver better experiences and restore effective justice for the average citizen. Pre-trial detention of dangerous suspects could be extended.

Businesses and citizens could settle a range of disputes, ranging from commercial contracts to family disputes. We were one of the first countries in the world to resume jury trials, which we should be very proud of, and which allowed us to deal with the inevitable delays much more quickly than other countries. Strongly defend the independence of the judiciary. Of course, this is a team effort and you can count on me as Lord Chancellor, Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister. I want to thank all of you in the room, as well as the lawyers, judges and court staff of England and Wales who continue to work so diligently and diligently. To make a decisive change in the way we support victims, to whom we all owe a great duty of care, because too often they have felt that they are an afterthought rather than being on the front lines and at the centre, the beating heart of our work. And in the face of what can only be described as enormous challenges, you have saved people from harm and ensured that our society is fair. I would like to welcome each and every one of you as we celebrate the opening of the Year of Law. Implement our prison construction program so that prison grounds can protect the public from the most serious and dangerous offenders. Speech by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor and the Minister for Justice at Westminster Hall at the opening of the Legal Year. Fate may accompany us today, but there is no reason to disrupt lunch. Victims of domestic violence can obtain protection orders.

Opening of the 2022 legal year – Speech by the Honourable Attorney General (PDF, 150.73 KB) and the President of the Barreau (PDF, 124.63 KB) and response from the Honourable Chief Justice (PDF, 126.92 KB). Speech (PDF, 117.65 KB) by the Honourable Chief Justice at the 2022 Mass Call. On all these things, we will have time to discuss how we can work together, but in the words of Peter the Great: And while I am carrying out my duties, I have a number of new priorities, in particular.