The Lord Chief Justice is an Officer of State, and the highest ranking judge in the United Kingdom. The post was traditionally the second highest in the judicial ranking, but when the Constitutional Reform Act (2005) came into force in 2006, the Lord Chief Justice became head of the judiciary of England and Wales. Previously this role had been held by the Lord Chancellor. The current Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd.[1]
The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is the head of the judiciary in Northern Ireland while the equivalent role in Scotland is the Lord President of the Court of Session.
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