New law officers chosen for their experience?

Posted By: James

Thursday 17th July 2014

Francis Gibb examines the possibility that ex-Attorney General Dominic Grieve was removed as AG in order that the Conservatives might make withdrawing from the ECHR a manifesto pledge. Commentators say Mr Grieve was highly principled and had a reputation for being fairly unbending, traits that endeared him to the legal profession. Alex Bailin, QC, from Matrix Chambers, said it would be “very troubling” to think that Mr Grieve was removed purely so that ECHR withdrawal can be a manifesto pledge. One barrister described the new AG, Jeremy Wright, as “very bright but inexperienced in the higher courts. He’d have been a thoroughly decent Midlands practitioner but perhaps not headed for the top ranks of the Court of Appeal criminal division”. Meanwhile, Stephen Parkinson, head of criminal law at Kingsley Napley and a former deputy head of the attorney’s office, said: “Neither [Mr Wright nor Robert Buckland, the new solicitor-general] has recent legal experience and their backgrounds are as criminal practitioners. They may struggle with the complex issues of civil and international law that are referred to the law officers for resolution. It looks as if they have no expertise in these areas and will be dependent on legal advisers in the AG’s department.”

[Would you like to leave a comment?]