Former Lord Justice of Appeal to officially open University Crown Courtroom

Sir John Mummery will be visiting the University of Derby on Thursday April 16 2015, to officially open the new Crown Courtroom.

The new £80,000 facility is positioned within the law vicinity of the University which is an exact replica of a real courtroom for students on law courses as well as those studying forensic science and criminology to experience real world settings.

Sir John, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, sat in the Court of Appeal for 17 years. Prior to that, he sat in the High Court.

Sir John will be judging 'The Trial' where students run a mock court case from taking initial instructions from their clients to its culmination. He said: "I am very happy to return to the University of Derby to open the new law court and judge 'The Trial.' I delivered a talk at the University last year and meeting students, staff and members of the local legal profession. It will be good to reprise the visit this year."

Scott Atkins, LLB Programme Leader at the University of Derby added: “To have a judge of his calibre working with us is a real achievement. This year marks 20 years since we began awarding Bachelor of Laws degrees at the University and we’ve had a courtroom at the University for most of that time. At the University of Derby we don’t just teach law but we want students to experience it in reality and the addition of this new courtroom underpins this philosophy.”

Emily Heslop, final year LLB student at the University of Derby said: “I am delighted to be taking part in ‘The Trial’ this year. It is daunting that it will be judged by Sir John but it is also a great experience for me to be able to deliver a legal argument and showcase the advocacy skills that I’ve learned here in front of such an eminent member of the judiciary. The law degree at the University Derby embeds the learning of legal skills throughout it and there are numerous opportunities to showcase these.”

The Crown Courtroom is one of many major developments made by the University this year. Also recently completed is the new Forensic Training Facility (FTF) at the Kedleston Road site, which is a £410,000 custom-built facility within, what looks from the outside, to be a normal four bedroom house, adjacent to the University’s Kedleston Road site.

Sir John will unveil a plaque to mark the occasion.