UK Supreme Court sitting outside London today

The UK`s highest court will make history twice today – in word and deed. The Supreme Court is planning to sit outside London for the first time in its eight-year history and also crack a technological taboo. The court is temporarily moving to Scotland until Thursday (June 15) and intends to convene in the City Chambers – normally the home of the City of Edinburgh Council. And to mark the occasion, the UK Supreme Court is joining Instagram to show off the set up and proceedings. For a number of years now council meetings held in the City Chambers, and in the Dean of Guild Court Room, have been webcast, so the judges will know that their every move will be broadcast to an outside audience. This is what they are used to when sitting in London, and the recording will be live streamed to the Supreme Court website. Lord Neuberger, the president of the Supreme Court, said the move provided an opportunity for members of the public and lawyers to observe the workings of the court first-hand. Lord Neuberger said: “We make every effort to ensure our proceedings are accessible throughout the UK via our free live streaming service. “However, nothing beats being able to observe courts at first hand. “We look forward to welcoming members of the public, as well as lawyers, during what is intended to be the first of a number of visits to the capital cities of the devolved nations.” Lord Carloway said he was “delighted” the court was sitting in Edinburgh. He added: “I welcome the opportunity it provides for the public and the legal community in Scotland to see the court in action.” A panel of five judges, including Lord Neuberger, are expected to hear three cases over the four days they are in the Scottish capital. The historic sitting will include appeals against sham marriages, national planning policy and the rehabilitation of determinate sentence prisoners. The schedule is that the court will hear Sadovska and another v Secretary of State for the Home Department on Monday (June 12) from 11am; on Tuesday (June 13) 2017 the court will hear the appeal of Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Planning Authority v Elsick Development Company Limited which relates to the correct legal test to be applied when assessing planning obligations, and the extent to which planning authorities are bound to comply with national planning policy; while on Wednesday (June 14) the case is Brown v The Scottish Ministers which relates to the obligation on the state to rehabilitate determinate sentence prisoners. Lord Carloway who is both a Scottish advocate and judge as well as the most senior judge of the Supreme Courts of Scotland and head of the Scottish Judiciary, will sit on the panel of judges to hear this appeal. As well as hearing the appeals the court will receive educational visits, exhibitions and special events. Mark Ormerod, the court’s chief executive, said: “This channel will serve as a window into the life of the Supreme Court beyond the courtroom. “Rather than focusing on the cases heard here, it will showcase the work we do with schools and universities from around the world, and our role as a popular visitor attraction in Parliament Square.” Mr Ormerod will be giving a free public talk during the Edinburgh sittings, offering those who come to observe proceedings an overview of the Supreme Court building and how the court uses its accommodation in central London. The presentation will begin in the Council Chamber after court has risen on Wednesday at 4.15pm. On a daily basis there are 120 seats which members of the public can occupy and attend the hearings. These will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.