The LBPCF committee and members were well represented at the 2026 Judges’ Service at Liverpool Cathedral on Sunday 11th October 2026. The event featured a service for the Liverpool legal profession. The event takes place each year to mark the start of the legal year. Some history and background to the event is included below (copyright High Sheriff of Merseyside).
His Honour Judge Cadwallader (pictured below), His Honour Judge Hodge KC (pictured below) and Dr. John Tribe attended from the LBPCF. A number of University of Liverpool undergraduate LL.B. students also attended the event. They are pictured above with the Court of Appeal’s Lady Justice Yip.
Here is some background to the event:
“Liverpool Cathedral, Sunday 11 th October 2026 at 10:30 am. The Judges’ Service – A Service of Dedication and Thanksgiving at the beginning of the Legal Year
At his Coronation, His Majesty The King made a promise to God to serve his people and ensure that justice was delivered in the Kingdom. Each year, people who deliver this justice attend a Cathedral service to recognise, as the King did, that God is the ultimate authority and is a merciful judge. This is a Christian Service but those of other faiths or no faith are warmly welcomed.
The tradition of holding a service to mark the beginning of the legal year dates back to medieval times when judges used to gather in Westminster Abbey. They prayed for guidance that they would judge everyone fairly and according to the Law. That service in London is still held to this day. Other cities that are visited by High Court Judges now hold such services and Liverpool has done so for hundreds of years. The service is arranged by the High Sheriff of Merseyside.
The office of High Sheriff is the oldest secular office in the country and dates back over a thousand years. The King appoints a High Sheriff for the county each year. The High Sheriff is a representative of the Monarch and supports the Judges of the High Court when they sit in the County. Other duties include support for royal visits, events with the armed forces and with voluntary and youth organisations.
At the Service, all Judges and Magistrates are reminded of the solemn oath that each took upon their appointment to “well and truly serve our Sovereign King, Charles III and to do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of this realm without fear or favour, affection or ill will”. Effective public service and the well-being of the county is the responsibility of civic leaders as well as the judiciary.
The Lord Mayor of Liverpool and Mayors from the Boroughs attend the service as civic representatives together with others from the Police, the Emergency Services, Civic, Professional, Youth and Voluntary organisations.
The High Sheriff of Merseyside, Hazel Snell DL, looks forward to welcoming you to this year’s Service at 10:30 on Sunday, 11th October.”
Picture Credit for the Judge Hodge and the Judges’ Service pictures: High Sheriff of Merseyside, 2026.
