Editing Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (section)

== Background ==
The House of Lords historically had jurisdiction to hear appeals from the lower courts. Theoretically, the appeals were to the [[King-in-Parliament|King (or Queen) in Parliament]], but the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] did 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 January 1856, to permit legally qualified members to exercise the House's appellate functions without allowing their heirs to swell the size of the House, [[James Parke, 1st Baron Wensleydale|Sir James Parke]], a judge, was created a life peer as  ''Baron Wensleydale''.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=21837 |date=11 January 1856 |page=112}}</ref> As the House of Lords eventually decided that a peerage "for the term of his natural life" did not allow him to sit and vote, Parke also received a hereditary peerage on 23 July 1856.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=21905 |date=25 July 1856 |page=2552}}</ref>

[[File:LordBlackburn (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Colin Blackburn, Baron Blackburn|Sir Colin Blackburn]], the first law lord appointed under the [[Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876]].]]
[[File:Lord-Kerr.jpg|thumb|[[Brian Kerr, Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore|Sir Brian Kerr]], the last  law lord appointed under the [[Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876]].]]
In 1873 [[William Ewart Gladstone]]'s government passed the [[Judicature Act 1873]], which reorganised the court system and abolished the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords in respect of English appeals. In February 1874, before the Act came into force, Gladstone's Liberal Government fell. The Conservative [[Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield|Benjamin Disraeli]] became prime minister. In 1874 and 1875 Acts were passed delaying the coming into force of the Judicature Act 1873. The [[Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876]] repealed the provisions rescinding the jurisdiction of the House of Lords.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. In 1889, however, an Act was passed allowing Lords of Appeal to continue to sit and vote in Parliament even after retirement from office.

The last person to be made a law lord under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 was [[Brian Kerr, Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore|Sir Brian Kerr]] on 29 June 2009. On 1 October 2009, the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 was repealed by Schedule 18 to the [[Constitutional Reform Act 2005]]<ref name=":1975737"/><ref>[http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&Year=2009&number=1604&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=3595437&ActiveTextDocId=3595437&filesize=15927 UK Statute Law Database]</ref> owing to the creation of the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]]. As a result, the power to create life peers under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 lapsed, although the validity of peerages created thereunder remains intact.