Lord Briggs appointed as next president of the Supreme Court

Lord Briggs has been appointed as the next president of the Supreme Court, succeeding Lord Reed, who is set to retire in January 2027.

The appointment received approval from the King, following recommendations from an independent selection commission and advice from the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor.

Briggs, who has served on the Supreme Court since 2017, will be the fifth individual to hold the presidency since the court's establishment in 2009.

In response to his appointment, Briggs expressed that it is a great privilege to assume this significant judicial role. He stated his commitment to working with colleagues across the Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to ensure justice is delivered with the highest quality, transparency, and accessibility.

Outgoing president Lord Reed praised Briggs, describing him as a judge of the highest distinction and commending his efforts to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of the justice system.

Briggs' journey to the presidency began with a degree in history from Magdalen College, Oxford, marking him as the first lawyer in his family. He began his legal career practising from the chambers of Charles Sparrow QC, which later became Serle Court, focusing on business and property litigation.

He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994 and joined the High Court in 2006. Notably, he oversaw the extensive Lehman Brothers insolvency litigation from 2009 to 2013 before being elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2013 and subsequently to the Supreme Court in 2017.

Lord Briggs will officially take over the presidency from Lord Reed in January 2027, marking a significant transition in the leadership of the UK's highest court.