Justices' Financial Interests

The Justices of the UK Supreme Court have decided that it is not appropriate or feasible to publish a Register of Interests. This decision has been taken on the basis that it would be impossible for the Justices to identify all interests which may conceivably arise before the Court. The Justices have also considered that a Register of Interests, which the general public would believe to be complete, could potentially be misleading. Instead, the Justices have agreed a formal Code of Conduct by which they will all be bound.

Current practice is for a Justice to declare any interest which arises in the context of a particular case and, if necessary, recuse themselves from sitting in that case - whether at a substantive hearing or an application for permission to appeal.

Several Justices will hold shares in a number of public quoted companies. Justices will not regard a small shareholding in any such company involved in a case as a matter for recusal or disclosures. A Justice with a large shareholding will draw this specifically to the parties' attention.

In addition, Justices will not normally think it necessary to declare that they are council taxpayers in a local authority which is a party to a case or is likely to be affected by the outcome. Any party who wishes to have specific confirmation of the position regarding any such shareholding(s) or council tax liabilities in any particular case should contact the Registry [link to contact page for Registry].

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