Early on in his legal career, the master of the rolls learned an important lesson about the rule of law from a judge at Bloomsbury County Court, Obiter heard last week. Lord Neuberger, a former property barrister, was recalling the first time he cross-examined a chartered surveyor, in a case concerning the 1967 Leasehold Reform Act. Speaking at the annual conference of the Leasehold Advisory Service, he confided that he was a bag of nerves and had spent three days preparing: ‘Eventually the moment came, and feeling more nervous than I have ever felt, I got to my feet. Dispelling the urge to rush out of the courtroom or throw up, I started my questioning,’ he said. Two hours later, he sat down feeling very pleased with himself as it seemed to have gone rather well. So, at lunchtime, when the usher rushed up to him with a note from the judge, the young Neuberger was anticipating a complimentary comment for an aspiring young barrister. The note read: ‘Neuberger, members of the bar do not wear blue suits or suits without waistcoats in my court.’ Clearly Neuberger must have changed his attire pretty sharpish, as his legal career prospered notwithstanding. Obiter observed that Neuberger’s suit on this occasion was grey. Though as the light fell on it, could it be said to show just a slight bluish tinge?
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