Raab’s Departure as Justice Secretary Prompts Calls for Reform of UK Justice System

Raab’s Departure as Justice Secretary Prompts Calls for Reform of UK Justice System

Representative bodies of lawyers have urged for a fresh start in the UK justice system following the appointment of Alex Chalk KC as the new justice secretary and Lord Chancellor.

Chalk, who was formerly a criminal barrister, has taken over from his predecessor, Dominic Raab, who resigned after a bullying inquiry.

Last Friday, Dominic Raab resigned from his position as justice secretary and Lord Chancellor following an independent review of his conduct by Adam Tolley KC, of Fountain Court Chambers. The review found that Raab had acted in an "intimidating" and "insulting" way towards Ministry of Justice (MoJ) civil servants, and had undermined and humiliated a senior civil servant during his time as foreign secretary.

As a result of Raab's resignation, former solicitor general Chalk is set to take the top job at the Ministry of Justice, having previously worked in the ministry before moving to the Ministry of Defence, where he was responsible for procurement as a minister.

Bar Council chair Nick Vineall KC stated that a fresh start is necessary.

“Court backlogs continue to hinder timely access to justice for thousands and cause misery for all those working in the justice system. At the same time, anti-lawyer rhetoric undermines public confidence and adherence to the rule of law," Nick Vineall KC said.

The president of the Law Society, Lubna Shuja, also commented that the justice system is currently experiencing a number of challenges, including backlogs, legal aid issues, court infrastructure problems, and a shortage of judges and staff. Shuja emphasised the urgency of the new justice secretary taking action to address these issues.

Before he was appointed the new justice secretary, Chalk worked as a barrister and prosecuted serious crimes. He then served as the government's deputy chief legal advisor in the position of solicitor general from September 2021 to July 2022, when he was one of the first ministers to resign, contributing to the fall of Boris Johnson’s administration.

The justice secretary position has changed hands frequently, with Chalk being the eighth person to hold the position since 2016. Raab had held the position twice before his recent resignation.

According to Lord Wolfson KC, a former colleague of Chalk at the Ministry of Justice, Chalk is widely respected, a firm defender of the rule of law, and brings his experience as a Law Officer to the role.

"He is a dedicated lawyer knowing well, as a former practitioner, the issues over legal aid and the problems with the justice process. Unlike his predecessor, I think he will think it an honour to be appointed Lord Chancellor," David Greene, a former Law Society president, said.

Legal journalist Joshua Rosenberg KC (Hon) evaluated Raab's performance as a justice minister and concluded that his ability to remain in the position for as long as he did, while also serving as deputy prime minister, highlights a lack of qualified individuals in high public office.

Raab criticised the report's threshold for bullying, claiming it was set too low. He also made public statements alleging that "activist civil servants" were obstructing his policy goals.