Welcome to the 2025 edition of Middle Templar. I hope you all had some rest and relaxation over the summer.
Two policy issues of note have surfaced recently. COIC has produced a review of the evidence on the Timing of Call and the Harman Review has been published. We will discuss these both within the Inn, and with COIC, over the months ahead.
So far this year the Inn has called 346 people to the Bar in seven ceremonies. These have been joyous occasions. It is wonderful to see young people at the beginning of their careers and to meet them and their very proud families. There are a further four ceremonies on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 November.
Continuing the theme of education, Cumberland Lodge weekends continue to provide our students with a fantastic experience. These are in addition to the outstanding advocacy training and excellent Qualifying Sessions that are developed by the Education Department. I remain hugely grateful to the volunteers who contribute so generously to make these events successful. We have plans to combine one-hour CPD sessions alongside social events to mix development with collegiality, in the best traditions of the Inn.
Our trip to Dublin in May for the Four Jurisdictions Law Conference with our friends and Colleagues in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland – and, of course, England and Wales, was a great success. Excellent sessions on important and interesting topics, given by leaders in their fields were combined with a couple of very enjoyable evenings off duty. Look out for the dates of next year’s conference in Edinburgh.
We have heard some stunning lectures. They were inaugurated by Baroness Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, who gave a thought-provoking discourse on the subject of ‘Judicial Resilience’ in which she ranged across the challenges facing the judiciary from misreporting to physical violence. Next was a lively conversation between two highly distinguished lawyers and parliamentarians; Daniel Greenberg CB, the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards and Master Bob Neill, former Chair of the Justice Select Committee. The title, ‘Parliament and the Law: Constructive Tension or Dysfunctional Relationship?’ sparked a stimulating discussion. In May, thanks to the efforts of Master Clive Lewis, we hosted Judge Synelnykov, a judge of the Court of Cassation of the Supreme Court of Ukraine who addressed us remotely about the ‘Administration of Justice under Martial Law’. That certainly gave perspective to our own problems. It was then a privilege to welcome him to our Amity visit to the Hague to speak in person in September. That visit to the Hague was a great success and I commend to you the account of it from Rukhsar Jahangir which follows here.
In early June, we had an additional lecture from the Honorable Robert L Wilkins, a judge of the Court of Appeal of the District of Columbia circuit on the eve of his Call as an Honorary Bencher. The title was ‘My family’s journey from Slavery to Citizen.’ It began with a photograph of the gravestone of Master Wilkins’ great grandmother and ended with a photograph of Master Wilkins and his family in the Oval Office with Barack Obama. It was the tale of an extraordinary woman who brought up eight children and, as a freed slave, fought the state of Kentucky in court and won. The tale reflected a 30-year research project brought to fruition by Master Wilkins. Later that month, another large audience was educated and amazed by Master Emily Jackson’s superb lecture with the intriguing title ‘Future Humans: Law, Ethics and Regulation’. This delved into how we regulate a world in which the law meets cutting edge science. On Monday 6 October, Master Leveson gave a searing account of the state of the criminal justice system and introduced part one of his review. We conclude the series on Monday 3 November with Master Hodge speaking on ‘The Rule of Law, Populism and the Importance of Institutions’.
In July, the Inn hosted a wonderful dinner in honour of a very large group of Canadian Lawyers and judges, including the Chief Justice and most of Supreme Court as well as most of the Supreme Court of the UK. I have received several warm and appreciative letters from our Canadian friends thanking the Inn for making the evening so memorable. I think everyone present felt the same.
We have called Ordinary and Honorary Benchers in some outstanding Bench Call nights. The new Benchers’ short speeches have been hilarious, thoughtful, moving. I could go on. Perhaps the most eye catching was Judge Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court, who gave a memorable speech underlining the importance of the Rule of Law. Her perspective was unique because she is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Russia. Remember, you may bring guests to Bench Call. Mine have been entertained and impressed by these lovely events.
You’ll have noticed the changes to the rules for Private Guest Nights. We may now invite spouses/partners, bring more than one guest and may attend without a guest. The feedback has been universally positive. How unsurprising that spouses and partners should be interesting and distinguished. The last two Private Guest Nights of 2025 are on Thursday 6 November and Wednesday 3 December, the latter with a musical interlude from the Orchestra for the Earth.
This half of the year has also brought sadness at the death of good friends. The memorial service for Marilynne Morgan, a much-loved Bencher, will take place in Temple Church on Thursday 13 November.
One of the delights of being in the Inn so much this year is to marvel, daily, at the gardens which were spectacular at the Garden Party. Huge thanks are due to Kate Jenrick, our head gardener whose talent and hard work have given us a visual and fragrant feast.
Treasurers always say how quickly their time as Treasurer goes. It’s true. I have been in post for just over a year. It has been a huge honour, privilege and pleasure. I look forward to the rest of 2025.
One other date for the diary: Grand Day, Wednesday 22 October. I’ll look forward to seeing you there!
The Rt Hon Lady Justice Thirlwall DBE
