Lord Neuberger, president of the supreme court since 2012
Educated at Westminster School and studied chemistry at Oxford University, Lord Neuberger worked at a merchant bank before joining the bar. First judicial appointment as a recorder, a part time judge, in 1990. His wife’s pro-European tweets have led to Eurosceptic calls for him to stand aside from the case.
Lady Hale, deputy president of the supreme court since 2013
The most senior woman on the bench, studied law at Cambridge University, then lectured at Manchester University while practising as a barrister. She specialised in family and social welfare law, becoming a high court judge in 1994. A speech she delivered setting out the arguments ahead of the Article 50 case infuriated Brexiteers.
Lord Mance, justice of the supreme court
He read law at Oxford University and practised in Germany before becoming a recorder in 1993. He represented the UK on the Council of Europe’s Consultative Council of European Judges from 2000 to 2011. Lord Mance was forced to withdraw from giving a speech about justice in Europe in November because of political sensitivities ahead of the article 50 court case.
Lord Kerr, justice of the supreme court
Formerly Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Kerr was educated at St Colman’s College, Newry, and read law at Queen’s University, Belfast. In 1993 he was appointed a high court judge. He was last the Law Lord appointed before the creation of the supreme court.
Lord Clarke, justice of the supreme court
He specialised in maritime and commercial law at the bar and became a recorder in 1985. Clarke conducted the Marchioness and Bowbelle Inquiries and was appointed Master of the Rolls in 2005. He was the first justice to be appointed directly to the supreme court in 2009.
Lord Wilson, justice of the supreme court
He read law at Oxford University and specialised in family law. Wilson was a high court judge in the family division and joined the supreme court in 2011.
Lord Sumption, justice of the supreme court
After studying history at Oxford university, he became an academic and has continued to publish books on the Hundred Years War. He joined the bar in 1975 and apart from part time judicial roles, he continued to practise as a barrister until joining the court in 2012. He has served on the judicial appointments commissioner.
Lord Reed, justice of the supreme court
One of the two Scottish justices on the court, he studied law at Edinburgh University. Reed has sat as an ad hoc judge of the European court of human rights.
Lord Carnwath, justice of the supreme court
He studied law at Cambridge University, and served as attorney general to the Prince of Wales from 1988 to 1994. Carnwath has been chair of the Law Commission.
Lord Hughes, justice of the supreme court
He became a crown court recorder in 1985 before progressing up through the judicial ranks. He joined the supreme court in 2013.
Lord Hodge, justice of the supreme court
He is the other Scottish judge on the court. Hodge has served on the Scottish Law Commission and was one of the Scottish intellectual property judges. He joined the court in October 2013.
