Hertford at the Supreme Court

24 September 2019

Today’s historic ruling by the Supreme Court that the Prime Minister’s prorogation of parliament was unlawful rested on the work of not one, not two, but three Hertford alumni.

Acting on behalf of the appellant, Gina Miller, was David Pannick QC (1974); supporting him and intervening on behalf of the Welsh Government was Michael Fordham QC (1983), as well as Deok Joo Rhee (1992), who was acting for the Shadow Attorney General.

All three studied Law at Hertford College under the tutelage of Roy Stuart, Hertford’s Law tutor for over 30 years.

Each team argued against the government that there was strong evidence showing the purpose of prorogation was to prevent MPs “frustrating” the government’s Brexit plans. In judgement, all 11 sitting justices unanimously agreed that the Prime Minister had given unlawful advice to the Queen and that the prorogation of parliament was null and void, handing victory to the Hertford-staffed legal teams.