Press release

Master of the Rolls welcomes Civil Justice Council Experts Protocol

June 2005

The Master of the Rolls, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, today welcomed the launch of the Civil Justice Council Protocol for the Instruction of Experts to give Evidence in the Civil Courts. The launch coincides with the release of the Code of Practice for Experts (covering Europe) agreed jointly by the Academy of Experts and the Expert Witness Institute.

The Experts protocol is designed to give guidance to experts and those who instruct them when they work in the civil courts. Drafted by Mr Justice Bean and His Honour Judge Nic Madge, the protocol replaces the existing codes of guidance for expert witnesses. It has been agreed by the Academy of Experts, Expert Witness Institute, and other members of the Civil Justice Council's Expert Committee.

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers said: “I am delighted that the Civil Justice Council has consolidated the existing advice to experts into a single Experts Protocol. I would like to express my thanks to Mr Justice Bean and His Honour Judge Nic Madge for their efforts on producing this succinct and clear document which I am sure will be of great help to experts in the future.

It is also my pleasure to launch the Code of Practice and to thank the Academy of Experts and Expert Witness Institute for their efforts in working together to produce this document. I hope other expert organisations will feel able to adopt this Code to help continue raising the standards of experts across the UK.”