Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Alex Norris MP as the new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, following the formation of the new government.
Mr Norris becomes one of the few individuals to hold the office without a legal background. Before his appointment, he served as Minister for Border Security and Asylum at the Home Office and has previously worked as a trade union official.
The appointment forms part of a wider Cabinet reshuffle. Ellie Reeves KC has been promoted to Attorney General, having previously served as Solicitor General. Meanwhile, Chris Bryant MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, succeeding Hilary Benn.
The changes also mark the departure of David Lammy as Justice Secretary and Lord Hermer KC as Attorney General following the transition of leadership.
The appointment of a non-lawyer as Lord Chancellor follows a precedent seen in recent years. Although the role has traditionally been held by legally qualified individuals, several previous office holders, including Chris Grayling, Michael Gove, Liz Truss, and David Lidington, served in the position without practising as lawyers.
As Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Mr Norris will be responsible for overseeing the Ministry of Justice, supporting the administration of the courts and justice system, and helping to shape legal policy across England and Wales. His appointment comes at a time when the legal sector continues to face important discussions around court reform, access to justice and the modernisation of legal services.
The legal profession will now be watching closely to see how the new Justice Secretary approaches ongoing reforms and the future direction of the justice system under the new government.
