Senior President of Tribunals

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The Senior President of Tribunals is a senior judge in the United Kingdom who presides over the UK tribunal system. The Senior President is appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.^[1] Lord Justice Carnwath was appointed as the first holder of the post on 12 November 2007.^[2]^[3]

The Senior President must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis, or have had similar experience in Scotland or Northern Ireland.^[4]

The Senior President must have regard to the need for:^[5]

Tribunals to be accessible;
Proceedings before tribunals to be:
- Fair; and
- Handled quickly and efficiently;
Members of tribunals to be experts in the subject-matter of, or the law to be applied in, cases in which they decide matters;

— and the need to develop innovative methods of resolving disputes that are of a type that may be brought before tribunals.

The Senior President of Tribunals can make representations to the Parliament of the United Kingdom about tribunal members and the administration of justice by tribunals. The Senior President can also represent the views of tribunal members to Parliament, the Lord Chancellor and government ministers.^[6]