[JURIST] UK Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer of Thoroton [official profile] who under the UK's traditional governmental structure served three roles as Speaker of the House of Lords, the head of the UK's judiciary, and a minister in the British government, has resigned his judicial post as part of the constitutional reform process instigated by Prime Minister Tony Blair. Lord Chief Justice Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers [BBC profile] has taken Lord Falconer's judicial position. Read the UK Department of Constitutional Affairs press release on the transition. BBC News has more.

The ongoing constitutional reforms also envisage the creation of a new independent commission that will take over responsibility from the Lord Chancellor for appointing judges to the bench, and the institution by 2009 of a new national Supreme Court. Also this week the Judiciary of England and Wales has launched a new website [official website] that includes current court rulings, information on the history of the UK's judiciary, and a variety of learning resources intended to educate the public on how the UK court system functions. The Guardian has more.