Bilateral Exchange of Senior Judiciary of the United Kingdom and Judges of the European Court of Human Rights
Thursday 13 October – Friday 14 October 2022
Earlier this month, senior members of the UK judiciary took part in an exchange with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). This is part of a long-standing arrangement between the UK Judiciary and the ECtHR judiciary, to hold regular exchanges, with most recent meetings held in 2018 and 2020.
The UK delegation comprised:
- The Rt Hon Lord Hodge, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
- The Rt Hon The Lord Burnett of Maldon, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
- The Rt Hon Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
- The Rt Hon Lady Dorrian, Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland
- The Rt Hon Lord Sales, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
- The Rt Hon Lord Burrows, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
- The Rt Hon Dame Victoria Sharp, President of the King’s Bench Division of England and Wales
The ECtHR delegation comprised:
- Judge Róbert Ragnar Spanó, President of the European Court of Human Rights
- Judge Síofra O'Leary, Vice President of the European Court of Human Rights
- Judge Gabriele Kucsko-Stadlmayer, Section President of the European Court of Human Rights
- Judge Tim Eicke, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights
- Judge Arnfinn Bårdsen, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights
Roundtable discussions were led by different members of the delegations and topics discussed included climate change litigation and the ECHR, and case law in relation to the extra-territorial effect of the ECHR.
Lord Hodge, Deputy President of the UK Supreme Court, said of the visit, “It was a pleasure to welcome the delegation from the European Court of Human Rights to London, on behalf of Supreme Court President, Lord Reed. As ever, the valuable exchange between our two Courts, as with other supranational bodies, is an important opportunity to share views, analysis and expertise with judicial colleagues”.
President Spanó, President of the European Court of Human Rights, said, “Analysis of Strasbourg case-law by UK superior courts shows an in-depth understanding of and engagement with the Strasbourg Court’s case-law. The fact that there are now so few violations found against the UK points to the UK courts successfully applying the Convention at the domestic level. I am confident that our judicial dialogue will go from strength to strength”.
The bilateral visit concluded, with President Spanó returning the invitation to meet again in Strasbourg, for the next bilateral exchange.