Lord Reed announces his retirement from the UK Supreme Court

Lord Reed of Allermuir to retire from the UK Supreme Court

The President of the UK Supreme Court, Lord Reed has today (Friday 16 January 2026) announced his intention to retire from the Court on 10th January 2027.

Lord Reed became a Supreme Court Justice in February 2012. He became Deputy President in June 2018 and then President in January 2020. In that time, he has made an exceptional contribution to the development and administration of the law, and is held in the highest respect for his legal scholarship, sound judgment and dedication to public service. Lord Reed has also taken the lead in strengthening bilateral ties with foreign supreme courts and jurisdictions, has overseen the Court sitting outside London, and has revived the practice of judges from JCPC jurisdictions sitting on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council when it hears appeals.

Speaking as he announced his intention to retire, Lord Reed said:

“I have decided that I will retire from the office of President of the Supreme Court on 10 January 2027. I will then have served for seven years as President, for 15 years as a judge of the Supreme Court, and for 28 years as a member of the senior judiciary. It has been a privilege to serve the citizens of the United Kingdom, and the people of the Privy Council jurisdictions round the world. It has also been a pleasure to work with my colleagues on the Court, present and past, in developing the law and strengthening the administration of justice.”

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It is expected that the Lord Chancellor will convene an independent selection commission under rules set by Parliament, to fill the vacancy resulting from the forthcoming retirement of Lord Reed.
Biography: Robert Reed, Lord Reed of Allermuir took up appointment as President of the Supreme Court on 13 January 2020, succeeding Lady Hale of Richmond. Upon this appointment, Lord Reed became a life peer. Prior to his appointment as President, Lord Reed previously served as Deputy President of the Supreme Court from 7 June 2018 and was originally appointed as a Justice on 6 February 2012.
Lord Reed studied law at Edinburgh University and at the University of Oxford. He qualified as an advocate in Scotland and as a barrister in England. He practised at the Scottish Bar in a wide range of civil cases, and also prosecuted serious crime.
Lord Reed studied law at Edinburgh University and at the University of Oxford. He qualified as an advocate in Scotland and as a barrister in England. He practised at the Scottish Bar in a wide range of civil cases, and also prosecuted serious crime.
He served as a senior judge in Scotland for 13 years. From 2008 to 2012 he was a member of the Inner House of the Court of Session, and from 1998 to 2008 a member of the Outer House of the Court of Session, where he was the Principal Commercial Judge.
As well as sitting on the Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, he is also a member of the panel of ad hoc judges of the European Court of Human Rights. Lord Reed is also the High Steward of Oxford University.