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Article summary

In a lecture at Victoria University of Wellington, Justice of the UK Supreme Court (UKSC), Lord Sales examines the concept of the rule of law and its importance in the UK and New Zealand legal systems. He highlights the recognition of this principle in both countries' legislation, including the UK's Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and New Zealand's Supreme Court Act 2003 and Senior Courts Act 2016. Lord Sales argues for a formal conception of the rule of law, emphasising its inherent value and benefits across economic, political and moral domains. He also addresses the tension between the rule of law and parliamentary sovereignty, noting that the resolution of this tension depends on each polity's political and legal culture. The lecture aims to contribute to the ongoing debate about the rule of law's definition and significance, particularly in the context of unwritten constitutions.