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All UKSC (and Privy Council) judgments are published and can be read and downloaded for free. So why do Justices read parts of them aloud, as you can see on UKSC's official YouTube channel? I'd certainly think that lawyers can read for themselves! Are they intended for the illiterate?

As you can also see, very few people attend these declamations, barring the landmark cases.

Glorfindel
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3 Answers3

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Because it’s the default

The law requires:

Judgment

  1. A judgment may be—

(a) delivered in open court; or

(b) if the Court so directs, promulgated by the Registrar

Community
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Dale M
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Usually at the beginning of the video the judge giving the leading judgment states that its for archival purposes.

Historically their judgments would normally be given orally. So the fact that they provide a written judgment is an "add on" to what is normal

Shazamo Morebucks
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Why do UK Supreme Court Justices read aloud their judgments?

To add to Dale M's answer:

It's not just the Supreme Court that must read out judgements: all courts that pass sentence as required to do so. This is a legal requirement under s.52 of the Sentencing Act 2020 to ensure the defendant, victims and general public know what has been decided and why, and what the punishment is:

(1) A court passing sentence on an offender has the duties in subsections (2) and (3).

(2) The court must state in open court, in ordinary language and in general terms, the court's reasons for deciding on the sentence.

(3) The court must explain to the offender in ordinary language—

  • (a) the effect of the sentence,

  • (b) the effects of non-compliance with any order that the offender is required to comply with and that forms part of the sentence,

  • (c) any power of the court to vary or review any order that forms part of the sentence, and

  • (d) the effects of failure to pay a fine, if the sentence consists of or includes a fine.