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While I prepare to take office as one of the City's elected Sheriffs, an ancient office, representing a living link to our City's enduring values of justice, service, and civic duty, I have taken some time to remind myself of the history that brought us to where we are today, finding inspiration in those very deep roots.

At the end of this month I will be taking office as one of the City's elected Sheriffs for the upcoming year. It's a role I take up both with pride and reverence for the history and responsibility it represents.

The position of Aldermanic Sheriff is an ancient office, representing a living link to our City's enduring values of justice, service, and civic duty. It is tradition that the two Sheriffs of London are based at the Old Bailey, the UK's central criminal court, during their year and my fellow Sheriff-Elect, Deputy Keith Bottomley, and I are hosting a five part Justice for All Series as our part of the joint civic plan.

To know where we wish to go, I think it is important to reflect upon where we have come from, and the Shrievalty has a legacy spanning more than 1,000 years, when the Anglo Saxons established their courts in London and throughout England. Rooted in community responsibility, as well as the honourable principles of justice and virtue, the presence of Lady Justice in glittering gold atop the Old Bailey is a reminder that these are still the values by which we, and indeed our courts, should be governed.

While I prepare for the next 12 months, I have taken some time to remind myself of the history that brought us to where we are today, finding inspiration in those very deep roots.

The revolutionary shift from vengeance to justice

Where we date the modern justice system back to, is open to some interpretation - some might say it was around 1068 after the Norman Conquest, others to Henry II in the 1100s, but in many ways we see its roots emerge under the Anglo Saxons. My understanding is that between 450 and 1066 England's transformation not only saw the gradual establishment of a more formal justice system, but a shift in the concept of justice itself.

With the emerging belief that justice was in the interest of the entire community, not only the victims of a crime, we saw the replacement of blood feuds with legitimate procedures within the community. It was an evolution that coincided with the establishment of Christianity in England. With the arrival of St. Augustine in Kent around 597 AD, we saw the conversion of King Æthelberht, the appointment of St. Augustine as the first Archbishop of Canterbury, and the uptake of Christian values and beliefs across the country.

It was those teachings that advocated for secure legal systems, echoing back to the story of Exodus, where Moses established judges to decide disputes and enforce God's laws, significantly influencing modern court operations. Subsequently, around 600 AD, we appear to see the first written Anglo Saxon codes, or laws, establishing the foundational belief that every individual possesses inherent legal worth - something which informs modern human rights - and lay the groundwork for what became common law.

What distinguished Anglo-Saxon law in particular was its flexibility. It was fundamentally procedural, offering mechanisms for resolution rather than predetermined outcomes and penalties. It is an approach that remains central to common law today, echoed in the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty', which is enshrined perhaps most importantly in Article 6 of the Human Rights Act of 1998, detailing that everyone in the UK has a right to a fair trial.

The Hundred Court: Democracy's ancestor

The foundation of Anglo-Saxon justice was the ‘hundred’ court - a monthly local assembly in which every free man was obliged to participate. These courts introduced the principle that justice must be transparent and accountable to the community it serves.

Justice in this period was structured at several levels:

The tithing

The most local level was the ‘tithing’, a group joined by every male villager over the age of 12, in an idea that reflected the concept of mutual responsibility. Each man in a tithing was expected to help ensure the good behaviour of the others. This system, known as frankpledge, fostered communal enforcement of the law rather than relying solely on royal power.

The hundred

Above the tithing was the hundred - made up of one member from each tithing, and most likely around 100 people, presided over by ‘the hundred reeve’. While the main function of the group was administrative - passing information from the King through the ranks to the ‘reeve’, the hundredmen, the tithingmen, and so on - the hundred did have judicial functions, including:

• Settling disputes
• Enforcing laws
• Requiring witnesses to swear oaths both about the facts of a case and their own integrity

One fascinating mechanism was ‘compurgation’, where defendants could swear to their innocence and call on others to swear to their good character. Most importantly, the hundred court embedded the idea that decisions should be made by local peers, rather than distant authorities - laying the groundwork for trial by jury.

The Shire

At the top of this system was the shire, overseen by the shire-reeve, from which the term ‘sheriff’ is derived. The shire courts covered larger areas and were overseen by royal officials who ensured justice was carried out in line with the King’s peace.

The Sheriff: Royal justice meets local wisdom

The office of sheriff emerged as a critical innovation, whereby royal appointees were responsible for maintaining the King's peace within existing community structures, such as the shires and counties. Instead of replacing local assemblies, sheriffs reinforced the principle that royal and community justice should complement each other.

In London, this office gained special significance. The City's ancient privileges allowed citizens to elect sheriffs rather than have them appointed by the crown - a tradition maintained to this day. It is a wonderful thing to know that witnessing sheriffs at civic functions or presiding at the Old Bailey today reflects an unbroken link to Anglo-Saxon governance.

From ancient wisdom to the Magna Carta

The path from Anglo Saxon law to the Magna Carta was more direct than often recognised. I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Paul Double CVO - Chairman of the Magna Carta Trust (amongst his many accolades), about the 800th anniversary this year of the re-issue of Magna Carta into its substantive form. The Trust seeks to:

• Perpetuate the principles of Magna Carta
• Preserve sites associated with Magna Carta for reverent public use
• Commemorate the grant of Magna Carta as the source of the constitutional liberties of all English-speaking peoples, and a common bond of peace between them

It does this, recognising that The Magna Carta is still considered a foundation of liberty because it was the first document to formally outline the principle that no one, not even the monarch, is above the law. It is a value we not only hold dear today, but continuously need to protect. I look forward to sharing my interview with Mr Double in due course.

The Great Charter not only created new rights but reaffirmed ancient ones established by King Æthelberht. Reflecting a precedent set out by the Anglo Saxons, The Magna Carta's famous Clause 39 guaranteed the right of a freeman to a trial by his peers before he could be lawfully imprisoned, demanding that King John restore liberties threatened by Norman administrative innovations.

It read: "No free man is to be arrested, or imprisoned, or disseised, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any other way ruined, nor will we go against him or send against him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land."

The clause mirrored the Anglo Saxon principles of a trial by a jury of one’s peers, which evolved from the hundred court, while ‘law of the land’ (lex terrae) invoked the concept that established customs and community-based laws should prevail over royal authority. Even the revolutionary idea that kings were subject to the law had Anglo Saxon precedent, as royal authority was legitimate only when exercised according to established custom.

Living echoes in modern justice

Today's legal system preserves these ancient influences in many ways. The Guildhall, where City sheriffs are elected, operates under principles familiar to an Anglo-Saxon council or hundred court; we note that there are 100 Common Councillors. The Old Bailey embodies Anglo Saxon legal principles through jury trials, the presumption of innocence, and an adversarial system.

The Old Bailey itself stands as a testament to this continuity. Officially the Central Criminal Court, it sits on the site of the former Newgate Prison, on Old Bailey Street, and was opened in 1907. The words, "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer," are inscribed above the main entrance, echoing the historic idea that justice must protect the vulnerable while maintaining social order. Even its procedures reflect Anglo Saxon innovations, with trials held publicly and with thorough defence.

Perhaps the most profound Anglo Saxon contribution is understanding that law emerges from the community it serves, not imposed from above. Anglo Saxon legal procedure was inherently participatory, requiring active engagement from all free members of society. It’s a principle I believe we must continue to protect, mindful of modern challenges, such as maintaining community participation amidst fragmentation and preserving transparency and accountability amidst global complexity.

The answer may lie in remembering that Anglo Saxon law was adaptive, integrating Roman, Christian, and Viking influences based on practical success rather than theoretical purity.

Justice as a living tradition

As we confront contemporary challenges, from corporate fraud to the complexities of AI, we should remember the Anglo Saxon principle that justice isn't a commodity to buy but a responsibility to share. In London's ancient offices and continuing traditions, we possess living links to this wisdom.

Justice, like the Thames, flows through London's history, connecting past and present. The ceremonies we witness today, including the election of sheriffs, aren't mere pageantry, but the ongoing evolution of principles that have been established and honed across the centuries. Our legal system is one that has been the envy of the world for many years, influencing all aspects of our community, our commercial success, and our ethics. It’s important that we remember that and uphold it with honour.

Justice for all

As Aldermanic Sheriff, my key focus and theme for the year will be Justice for All, with an emphasis on justice for the accused, justice for survivors, and justice for prison leavers. My intention is to shine a spotlight on The City's role in upholding and improving our approach to each of those categories for the betterment of all.

I shall be beginning with a landmark launch event at The Old Bailey - the Justice for All Series - on 30th October to explore the key areas of contemporary justice, framed around the anniversaries of Magna Carta (1225) and UN Sustainable Development Goal 16. The goal is not to seek consensus, but clarity: What does a just society require today? Who must act? And what will it cost us if we do not?

It is with thanks to Serco, Rathbones, Sodexo, and the City of London Corporation for their support so far, as well as Sheriff Elect Deputy, Keith Bottomley, His Honour, Judge Mark Lucraft KC, and all the confirmed participants. You can register your interest on the link below - I hope to see you there.

Find out more about the Justice for All Series