Judge Lana Wood’s appointment as Honorary Recorder of St Albans is marked at a special ceremony
Judge Lana Wood’s appointment as Honorary Recorder of St Albans City and District has been marked at a special ceremony.
The Judge told her guests that she plans to use the role to improve the public’s understanding of the judiciary’s work as well as strengthen ties with St Albans City and District Council.
St Albans Mayor, Councillor Anthony Rowlands, who initiated the creation of the new position, attended the event at St Albans Crown Court where Her Honour is the Resident Judge.
Among the guests were Liz Green, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, and The Right Honourable Sir Stephen Irwin, formerly a Lord Justice of Appeal.
Members of the local judiciary, including Judges, Barristers and Magistrates, were also in attendance along with Lead Councillors and senior Council Officers.
Judge Wood was appointed to her role at a Full Council meeting in December last year. She will be invited to attend civic functions and will invite Councillors to judicial events.
Judge Wood said:
I am delighted to take up this new role and want to use it to further improve relations between the courts and the Council which have strong, historic ties.
I also want to open up our courts to the community to promote better understanding among the public of the work that is done here on their behalf.
Cllr Rowlands said:
Many thanks to Lana for embracing our proposal and agreeing to become the first holder of the post of Honorary Recorder of St Albans.
The relationship between the judiciary and other local legal services, on the one hand, and this Council and the community we represent, on the other, is vital.
At a time when financial resources are so stretched, it is timely that we should now be exploring, with ever greater vigour, ways in which the power of personal and collective commitment can be harnessed to solidify those civic bonds which underpin so much of what we do.
I look forward to working with Lana and others to ensuring that the links between the judiciary and local authority are strengthened to the benefit of all. The appointment will, I hope, also serve to symbolise, underpin and consolidate our City and District as a legal centre for the County.
Photos:top, from left to right, the Mayor, Liz Green, Judge Wood and Sir Stephen Irwin at the ceremony in St Albans Crown Court; first below, from left to right, Cllr Paul de Kort, Mayoress Annie Stevenson, the Mayor, Judge Wood, Cllr Robert Donald and Cllr Jacqui Taylor; 2nd below, back row, left to right, Recorder Ian Stern KC, Recorder Alexander Hutton KC, Sir Stephen Irwin, Judge Caroline Wigin, Judge Francis Sheridan; front row, left to right, Recorder Talwinder Buttar, Judge Sandeep Kainth, the Mayor, Judge Wood and Liz Green; 3rd below, the Mayor and Judge Wood.
Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727 819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.