Briggs’ review is endorsed

Lord Justice Briggs’ civil courts review has been formally approved by the senior judiciary.

In a statement last week, Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice, and Sir Terence Etherton, the Master of the Rolls, confirmed their support of the final report of the Civil Courts Structure Review.

The review, published in July 2016, makes 62 recommendations. They include an online court for money claims up to £25,000 in value, where litigants would not be represented by lawyers; creating a new tier of case officers to do uncontentious judicial work; and for civil work with a regional connection to be carried out in the regions, where possible.

Lord Thomas and Sir Terence said: “The judiciary will continue to work with the government and HMCTS to develop further the conclusions Lord Justice Briggs reached, and bring them to fruition alongside wider court modernisation. The justice system is undergoing a long overdue improvement programme. The judiciary is involved and informing every aspect of this. A team of civil judges has been established to lead on this work within the judiciary.”