My Lords, Chief Justice Rehnquist, Lord Chief Justice, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Let me begin by welcoming you all to this lunch, and in particular, Chief Justice Rehnquist, as our esteemed guest of honour.
It was both a pleasure and an honour for me to meet with you last December when I was in the United States - I am delighted to be able to welcome you here to the United Kingdom today.
Our legal systems have evolved in different ways. However, there are shared values: commitment to the rule of law; judicial independence; and rigour in judicial appointments. In the words of Thomas Jefferson: 'equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion'.
This September our senior judiciary will be meeting as part of the Anglo-American Legal Exchange. It is of huge importance and mutual benefit that the judiciaries of our two countries meet. Both our countries face threats from terrorism and violence. It is at times likes that the protection of the rule of law for our citizens is so important. Of course proportionate change to the law may be required. But always our citizens must be confident that they have the protection of the law.
As you will probably know we are in the process of establishing our own Supreme Court. So I think myself extremely fortunate that I will be able to learn from your experiences today. As you know the issue that is exercising many of us here is where to house the Court. This issue does not appear to be unique to the UK.
In 1932, when laying the cornerstone for the current Supreme Court building in Washington, the then Chief Justice, Charles Evans said that, 'The Republic endures and this is the symbol of its faith'. Despite this resounding endorsement of the Court and its co-equal role in the government of the United States, it is interesting that when the Court was provided with its own building in 1935, it was the 146th year of its existence.
We are going to have to decide on a building much more quickly than that.
Your Supreme Court has a history of excellent Chief Justices.
Chief Justice Rehnquist, we are honoured that you are with us today. It is an important time for us in considering constitutional arrangements and significant that the head of the US Supreme Court has chosen to visit us here in the UK. There is much we can learn from your experiences. We hope that our work is of some interest to you also.
We can only prosper from the breadth of experience and wisdom you have built up during your most impressive career. You have steered your courts through many groundbreaking legal and political disputes.
It is interesting to note your efforts to encourage good relations and close working between Justices. You may know that my Department and the UK Judiciary have recently set out - in a historic concordat - a path for working closely together in the future.
We trust your stay here is both a rewarding and enjoyable one. You are among friends and very welcome.