Queen Elizabeth II greets High Court judges as she officially opens the Rolls Building at the Royal Courts of Justice in 2011
(Picture: PA)Courts around the country fell silent on Friday morning to express “profound sorrow” at the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Lawyers and Judges gathered in the Great Hall of the Old Bailey to observe a two-minute silence at 10am, with the Common Serjeant Judge Richard Marks KC telling assembled legal professionals: “This is a profoundly sad occasion.”
At the Royal Courts of Justice, similar moments of mourning were observed at the start of all court hearings listed to take place on Friday.
“You will all have heard the news of the death yesterday of Her Majesty The Queen”, said Lord Justice Lewis.
“The court will continue to sit today, but we will begin this hearing with two-minute’s silence. May I ask you to bow your heads in silence, in memory of our late Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II.”
Lord Justice Lewis spoke to a room of more than 40 bewigged barristers in Court 76 of the High Court, where the legal challenge to the government’s Rwanda deportation policy is being heard.
In his speech, Judge Marks called it “the end of an era”, and said: “I’m sure we all send out very deepest condolences to members of the Royal Family.”
Courts in England and Wales are expected to continue sitting throughout the period of mourning, but will only hear urgent matters on the day of the funeral itself.
A message went out last night from the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Burnett of Maldon, instructing senior circuit judges that court sittings should still take place but with appropriate moments of mourning and reflection.
In contrast, the courts of Scotland were closed on Friday.
Some barristers and judges are wearing traditional mourning bands in memory of the Queen, instead of their usual collars, though the change is not obligatory.
Books of condolence for The Queen have been opened at the Old Bailey and within the Royal Courts of Justice.
Formal changes in the courts have begun to be made, including the change of senior barristers’ titles from Queen’s Counsel (QC) to King’s Counsel (KC), while remarks made at the start of court sittings have also altered to reflect the start of King Charles III’s reign.
“Silence be upstanding in court”, said an usher at the Old Bailey this morning.
“All persons who have anything to do before My Lords and Ladies, the King’s Justices at the Central Criminal Court, draw near and give your attendance. God save the King.”
Criminal barristers are currently on strike from Legal Aid cases in a long-running dispute with the government over fees.
The Criminal Bar Association said on Friday morning that protests outside courthouses and at Parliament have been cancelled out of respect for the Queen.
However the strike action will continue unabated during the official mourning period.
