The UK Supreme Court, the highest court in the country, is coming to Manchester... and anyone can go and watch.
The court, which is the final court of appeal for all civil cases, and for criminal cases originating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will sit at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre in the city centre next year. Three cases will be held between March 6 and 9.
Members of the public will be able to attend the hearings and there will also be a live-stream of the cases online. The sitting in Manchester will be the first time the court, which usually sits in central London, has ever sat outside one of the four UK capital cities.
Lord Reed, president of the Supreme Court said: "I am delighted that the Supreme Court will be sitting in Manchester next spring. As the final court of appeal for the United Kingdom, we hear cases of profound importance to everyone across the country.
"My colleagues and I strongly believe that the experience of attending a court hearing in person should not be limited to those able to get to London. We have previously sat in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast and I am very pleased that people in Manchester and across the North-West will have the opportunity to see the Court in operation locally.
"The Supreme Court is committed to being one of the most open and accessible courts in the world and, like all our hearings, the cases we hear in Manchester will be live streamed via our website for everyone who cannot get to see us in person."
His Honour Judge Bird said: "I am delighted to welcome the Supreme Court to Manchester. We are proud that the North-West has been chosen as the first place outside a UK capital to host a Supreme Court sitting.
"Accessible justice matters to everyone and I hope that having the Supreme Court at the Manchester Civic Justice Centre will encourage more people to take an interest in justice both locally and nationally."
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