The law Lords are highly qualifies people who impart justice to people who move before the House of Lords, which is the Apex Court of the country. The House of Lords is the highest Court of Appeal in UK. The decisions taken by the House of Lords is binding upon all the other civil courts in UK. The decisions taken in criminal cases in the House of lords are binding upon the all the lower courts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Functions of the Law Lords in the House of Lords
The Law lords hear appeals and give judgements. The law Lords also chair major enquiry commissions and deliver lectures in various parts of UK and across the world. The Law Lords are salaried judges. As many as 12 Law Lords are engaged in hearing public interest litigations in the House of Lords. Usually they sit in panels of 5, but sometimes they also sit seven or nine for appeals that are particularly of utmost importance. The age of the retirement of the Law Lords is 70 years to 75 years depending upon the year when they were first appointed. After retirement from the position of law Lords, they can continue to sit in the House of Lords.
Impartiality of the Law Lords
Although the Law Lords can speak and vote in the House, they usually refrain from doing so because as law Lords, they are
expected to remain impartial and uninfluenced by any political thought or party. The Law Lords might disqualify themselves from sitting on appeals in the House of Appeals if, by chance they express anything that later on become a matter of appeal before the House of Lords.
