(453)  SUPREME COURT ENACTED: CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ACT 2005

The Constitutional Reform Bill completed its Parliamentary stages and received Royal Assent on 24 March 2005, thus clearing the way for a General Election on the issue of who runs the country, the politicians or the judiciary.  The new Act is much as it was summarised in Scots Law News No 414 last December: the rule of law lives, along with the Lord Chancellor and judicial independence in England & Wales; the Scottish Parliament is left to decide what to do about the Scottish judges; and a Supreme Court will emerge as and when its building is ready.  It is now said in section 41(3) of the new Act that a decision of the Supreme Court on a devolution matter – (a) is not binding on that Court when making such a decision; (b) otherwise