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Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, or Law Lords, are appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords in order to exercise its judicial functions, which include acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters.

To be appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary under the Act, an individual must have been a practising barrister for a period of fifteen years or must have held a high judicial office—Lord Chancellor, or judge of the Court of Appeal, High Court or Court of Session — for a period of two years. Lords of Appeal in Ordinary serve for life under the style of Baron, and may vote in non-judicial matters, though they normally do not elect to exercise this right.

Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are joined by Lords of Appeal in exercising the judicial functions of the House of Lords, but only the former receive emoluments. Lords of Appeal include holders or former holders of high judicial office who are members of the House, but not by virtue of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act. Additionally, Lords of Appeal in Ordinary become Lords of Appeal after reaching the age of seventy. A Lord of Appeal continues to hold the style for life, but must cease hearing cases upon reaching the age of seventy-five.

The House of Lords historically has had jurisdiction to hear appeals from the lower courts. Theoretically, the appeals are to the King- or Queen-in-Parliament, but the House of Commons do not participate in judicial matters. The House of Lords did not necessarily include judges, but it was formerly attended by several judges who gave their opinions when the Lords desired. They did not, however, have the power to vote in the House. In 1856, to permit legally qualified members to exercise the House's appellate functions without allowing their heirs to swell the size of the House, Sir James Parke, a judge, was created a life peer. The House of Lords refused to admit him, so he had to take his seat as an hereditary peer.

In 1873, William Gladstone's government passed the Judicature Act, which reorganised the court system and abolished the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords in respect of English appeals. In February of the next year, before the Act came into force, Gladstone's Liberal Government fell; the Conservative Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister. In 1874 and 1875, acts were passed delaying the coming-into-force of the Judicature Act. In 1876, the Appellate Jurisdiction Act repealed the provisions rescinding the jurisdiction of the House of Lords. Additionally, the Act provided for the appointment of two persons to be Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, who were to sit in the House of Lords under the dignity of baron. Originally, though they held the rank of baron for life, they served in Parliament only while holding judicial office; 11 years later, however, an act was passed allowing Lords of Appeal to continue to sit and vote in Parliament even after retirement from office.

Life Peerages created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act, as aforementioned, are always of the rank of baron, and may be created for both men and women. To be appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act, an individual must have been a practising barrister for a period of fifteen years or must have held a high judicial office—Lord Chancellor, or judge of the Court of Appeal, High Court or Court of Session—for a period of two years. Lords of Appeal in Ordinary serve for life under the style of baron, and may vote in non-judicial matters, though they normally do not elect to exercise this right. The two most senior Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are designated the Senior and Second Senior Lords of Appeal in Ordinary respectively.

The Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are joined by the Lords of Appeal, who include members of the House of Lords, not necessarily created under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act, who hold or have held high judicial office. Additionally, every Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, upon reaching the age of 70, becomes a Lord of Appeal. Lords of Appeal retain their titles for life, but, except for the serving Lord Chancellor, are incapable of hearing cases after the age of 75. Only Lords of Appeal in Ordinary receive salaries: for 2004, the salary for the Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary is £185,705, and for other Lords of Appeal in Ordinary £179,431.

The Appellate Jurisdiction Act originally provided for the appointment of two Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, who would continue to serve while holding judicial office, though in 1887, they were permitted to continue to sit in the House of Lords for life, under the style and dignity of Baron. The number of Lords of Appeal in Ordinary was increased from time to time — to three in 1882, to four in 1891, to six in 1913, to seven in 1919, to nine in 1947, to eleven in 1968 and to twelve in 1994. The Administration of Justice Act 1968 allows the Sovereign to make a Statutory Instrument, if each House of Parliament passes a resolution approving a draft of the same, increasing the maximum number of Lords of Appeal.

Main article: List of Lords of Appeal

• Judicial functions of the House of Lords

• Usenet posting from 2001 regarding the judicial function of the House of Lords
• "Lords of Appeal in Ordinary." (1911) Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed. London: Cambridge University Press
• May, Sir Thomas Erskine. (1896) Constitutional History of England since the Accession of George the Third, 11th ed. London: Longmans, Green and Co.