Law Lords - Ranks and Titles

Ranks and Titles

To be appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary under the 1876 Act, an individual must have been a practising barrister for a period of fifteen years or must have held a high judicial office—Lord Chancellor (before 2005) or judge of the Court of Appeal, High Court or Court of Session—for a period of two years. Lords of Appeal in Ordinary were required to retire from judicial office at 70 or 75 years of age, though as peers under the style of Baron they continued to serve as members of the House of Lords in its legislative capacity for life.

Lords of Appeal in Ordinary were occasionally joined by other Lords of Appeal in exercising the judicial functions of the House of Lords. Lords of Appeal included holders or former holders of high judicial office who are members of the House, but not by virtue of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act (e.g. life peers under the Life Peerages Act 1958). The Lords of Appeal continue to hold the style for life.