HM Treasury has given the seal of the approval for Leeds to host one of five new regional administrative courts in the UK. The court, which will deal with cases such as general judicial reviews, including immigration and asylum matters, will be based at the Leeds Combined Court, in Oxford Row, and will open on 30 April.
The announcement has been welcomed by Leeds Legal - the only city-based legal sector marketing campaign in the country - Leeds Law Society, and Leeds City Council’s inward investment team, who jointly campaigned for the development.
Until now, all Administrative Court hearings have taken place at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, forcing solicitors, judges and claimants to travel to the capital, often incurring hefty bills for individuals, law firms and the tax payer.
Mr Justice Langstaff, alongside Judge Behran, will handle cases for Yorkshire and the North East region in Leeds, covering an area stretching from Nottinghamshire to Northumberland.
Alan M. Baker, chairman of Leeds Legal, said: “We are delighted that the court has now received go-ahead. It is the culmination of a dedicated campaign and demonstrates the strengths of the legal sector in the city and the high quality of judges and solicitors we have in Leeds and the surrounding area.”
“The fact that Leeds has been chosen is testament to the collaborative efforts of the city. All three parties worked together tirelessly to prepare a detailed report, Leeds: A Prime Location For The Administrative Court, which was a considerable factor in the decision. We must thank the inward investment team at the city council for their help in providing much of the information and many of the statistics for the report.
“There has been extensive support for the court to come to Leeds, not only from those based in the city, but from across the wider region, who will also benefit from its location. We’re looking forward to it opening later this month.”
James Haddleton, a partner at Leeds-based law firm DWF and chair of the civil litigation committee of the Leeds Law Society, commented: “The administrative court will be a real boost to the region and we are pleased that the doors will open for the first session soon.
“It makes common sense to have the nearest administrative court on our doorstep, not in London. Local parties will have their cases decided by judges from the region who have local knowledge and can put the cases in context. At a time when cost and resource are precious commodities, there will be a saving on both fronts as parties are no longer compelled to go to London and can utilise the legal expertise we have here in the city.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have supported the process, especially Lord Justice May, whose report, entitled Justice Outside of London, endorsed the case for the administrative court in the region."
