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Bilateral visit between the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Supreme Court of Iceland

Bilateral visit between the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and the Supreme Court of Iceland

Friday 17 March 2023

In March, Justices of the UK Supreme Court took part in an exchange with the Supreme Court of Iceland. This is the first visit by the Supreme Court of Iceland, and part of a broader UKSC programme of bilateral exchanges with international courts.

Official Photograph in Courtroom 2 of delegation
Official Photograph, Courtroom 2 of The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Friday 17 March 2023, UK Supreme Court

The UK delegation comprised:

  • The Right Hon The Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Right Hon Lord Hodge, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Right Hon Lord Sales, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Right Hon Lord Hamblen of Kersey, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Right Hon Lady Rose of Colmworth, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Right Hon Lord Richards of Camberwell, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • Ms. Vicky Fox, Chief Executive Officer of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

The Icelandic delegation comprised:

  • Mr. Benedikt Bogason, President of the Supreme Court of Iceland
  • Mrs. Ingveldur Einarsdóttir, Vice President of the Supreme Court of Iceland
  • Mr. Karl Axelsson, Justice of the Supreme Court of Iceland
  • Mr. Sigurð T. Magnusson, Justice of the Supreme Court of Iceland
  • Mrs. Björg Thorarensen, Justice of the Supreme Court of Iceland
  • Mrs. Ása Ólafsdóttir, Justice of the Supreme Court of Iceland
  • Mrs. Ólöf Finssdóttir, Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court of Iceland
  • Mr. Robert Spano, Of Counsel, Gibson Dunn
  • Mr. Sturla Sigurjónsson, Ambassador of Iceland to the UK
  • Mrs. Jóhanna Jónsdottir, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Iceland
Photo of Lord Reed and President of the Supreme Court of Iceland, Benedikt Bogason, in Courtroom 2
Photo of Lord Reed and President of the Supreme Court of Iceland, Justice Benedikt Bogason, in Courtroom 2

Roundtable discussions were led by different members of the delegations on the topic of the influence of the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights on Jurisprudence in Iceland and the United Kingdom.

Lord Reed, President of the UK Supreme Court, said of the bilateral: "It was a pleasure to welcome the President of the Supreme Court of Iceland, his colleagues and the Ambassador of Iceland to the UK Supreme Court. It was a valuable opportunity to share views and expertise with judicial colleagues."

Justice Bogason, the President of the Supreme Court of Iceland, expressed gratitude to Lord Reed and his colleagues for the invitation to the UK Supreme Court. He described the roundtable discussion "as a beneficial opportunity to gain diverse perspectives on shared challenges." He also highlighted the importance of engaging in direct conversations with colleagues.