(279)  SUPREME COURT: THE VIEWS OF THE FACULTY

The response of the Faculty of Advocates to the Supreme Court consultation  (see Nos 236 and 276) was made public on 10 November 2003.  The Faculty highlighted the need for any new Court to be administered and funded on a UK basis, and argued that this could not be done through the Department of Constitutional Affairs, which has responsibility only for the legal system of England and Wales.  The Faculty therefore suggests an independent Supreme Court Service.  It also proposes that the Court should sit in premises not used by the courts of England and Wales, and that it might sit in non-metropolitan centres in the north of England or Cardiff or Belfast (or Glasgow? Ed) to emphasise its UK and independent character.  The Faculty also argues that it should be possible for there to be a majority of Scottish judges on Scottish appeals to the new court.