Return of the law lords

After a brief flirtation with abandoning the titles of lord and lady, the Supreme Court has returned to tradition by upgrading Sir John Dyson to Lord Dyson.

The Supreme Court's latest recruit had been officially referred to as 'Sir John Dyson, JCS' (Justice of the Supreme Court) since his arrival in April (see solicitorsjournal.com, 19 April 2010).

The previous government made it clear that Supreme Court justices would in future be referred to by their High Court title, which, in the case of women, would be 'dame'.

But Lord Phillips, president of the Supreme Court, announced today that although there is no question of our most senior judges becoming life peers, as they were when they sat in the House of Lords, future justices will be known as 'lord' or 'lady'.

He said the appointment of 'Sir John' Dyson had led to 'some confusion' about the manner in which justices should be described and addressed.

'This announcement is a welcome move to help us introduce consistency and avoid the complications of a variety of titles being employed,' he said.

A spokesman for the Supreme Court added that the queen had signed a warrant making the change.