Our lives have them. Academia has one. State finances and even the tax system has one. So why shouldn’t the legal system have a twelve-months calendar and a legal year?
Saturday was a unique experience when attending the Annual Divine Service for Wales, to mark the beginning of the Legal Year in the beautiful St David’s Cathedral. All my fellow Welsh High Sheriffs were present.
A spectacular procession was made by the Lady Chief Justice, Judges, First Minister, members of the Judiciary, Lieutenancy, The Bishop, Clergy and Choir; and of course a posse of the 8 High Sheriffs of Wales - fitting given we hold the oldest secular office in the United Kingdom after the Crown, and during the 11th and 12th centuries High Sheriffs themselves judged cases in the monthly court of “the hundred” a sub-unit of the shire - and not to be confused with the modern version of the bat and ball game that also has its roots in Saxon or Norman times!!
Such events need to take place. The Divine Service really seemed to help maintain the unbending sense of purpose, focus and service our Judiciary apply constantly in their working lives.
Meeting up with so many dedicated and thoroughly interesting people, who are at the very peak of their profession, was a complete and utter pleasure. Learning of their past-times and career paths, were both intriguing and deeply fascinating. Grateful thanks to the High Sheriff of Dyfed, Mrs Helen Jones for organising so much in the background on our behalf - particularly the splendid tea!
To the Judiciary of Wales - mwynhau a chael blwyddyn wych o'ch blaen.