During a Monday ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Shabana Mahmood, a British-Pakistani Kashmiri-origin MP from Birmingham, officially took the oath as the United Kingdom’s new Lord Chancellor.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, 43, a Labour Party member, took her oath of allegiance using the Holy Quran. In her address, she affirmed her commitment to defending the international rule of law and upholding human rights, as stipulated by the European Convention on Human Rights.
Celebrating the ancient role’s 900-year legacy, Mahmood vowed to protect the judiciary’s independence from interference and undue pressure. She expressed her honour in becoming the first Muslim woman appointed to the post and, notably, the first Lord Chancellor fluent in Urdu.
Mahmood shared her new role on social media platform X, emphasizing her dedication to championing the Rule of Law.
Presence of Judicial Leaders
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by distinguished judicial figures, including Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr, President of the Supreme Court Robert Reed, and Chancellor of the High Court Julian Flaux.
In her speech, Mahmood acknowledged the current challenges within the justice system, particularly emphasizing the need for better access to justice for women and girls subjected to violence and abuse.
Responding to Mahmood’s speech, Lady Chief Justice Carr highlighted the inevitable challenges and decisions that lie ahead. She expressed eagerness to collaborate closely with Mahmood and her ministers within constitutional limits to advance justice and its achievement.
