The Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law

The Bingham Appeal

The Bingham Appeal Board, chaired by Sir Christopher Bellamy has raised over £2 million towards the target of £2.25m needed to establish the Centre. There has been wide support both financially, and in spirit, for the Centre across the legal community, companies and trusts. Click here to see the list of benefactors and click here to see our corporate, law firm and trust supporters.

Our international patrons are on hand to help and advise at all times.

The Purpose of the Centre

The Bingham Centre for Rule of Law is devoted to the study and promotion of the rule of law through comparative research, discussion and training. It aims to be the foremost institution of its kind specifically devoted to this vitally important issue worldwide.

The Centre is named after Tom Bingham (The Rt Hon Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG), a man of outstanding professional and human qualities and the first judge to hold all three of the most senior posts in the British judiciary - Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls and Senior Law Lord. He was President and Chair of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, in which the Bingham Centre is placed. The essence of the rule of law is, in Tom Bingham's words:

"[that] all persons and authorities within the state, whether public or private, should be bound by and entitled to the benefit of laws publicly and prospectively promulgated and publicly administered by the courts." The Rule of Law (2010)

The maintenance, development and promotion of the rule of law is of fundamental importance for the human dignity and well-being of people everywhere. It provides the foundations for good governance, accountability, certainty and legality which are core conditions for an effective economy and a fair society. Its relevance extends across a wide range in the affairs of people and states and should be a defining value in all societies.

It is, therefore, essential to have a Centre devoted to identifying rule of law issues in national, regional and international systems and seeking to analyse, establish and promote the rule of law's fundamental qualities.

The Bingham Appeal was launched to raise sufficient funds to run the Centre.

The Director

Professor Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG QC is the inaugural Director of the Centre. He is a world authority on public law and has combined a distinguished career as a scholar with university administration (he was a Vice Provost of University College London and twice Dean of its Law Faculty), and with legal practice (he is a barrister at Blackstone Chambers). He has assisted the drafting of a number of national constitutions and has served on the boards of a number of public bodies. He is at present the UK's representative on the Council of Europe's prestigious Commission for Democracy through Law (The Venice Commission).

The Centre's Activities

The Centre aims to provide a clear and strong influence on the implementation of the rule of law worldwide in the following ways:

• Carrying out original research, analysis and discussion of rule of law issues of practical relevance to practitioners, judges, government, business, individuals, groups and organisations in the United Kingdom and other countries
• Organising high quality seminars, conferences and other events to ensure effective communication about contemporary issues concerning the rule of law
• Collaborating with those who have expertise and experience in this area
• Providing support for qualified researchers, interns and visiting fellows from around the world to work in the Centre
• Being a primary reference point about rule of law issues
• Presenting an Annual Rule of Law Award for an outstanding contribution to the rule of law
• Holding an annual Bingham Lecture
• Providing and facilitating training on rule of law matters world-wide
• Creating an effective global network of people and institutions, which builds upon the Institute's wide network of membership and contacts

For more information on the centre, its proposed activities and how you can become involved, please contact: Professor Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG QC on 020 7862 5151 or jowell.binghamcentre@biicl.org.

Courts and Democracy

Click here to watch the 15th March Courts and Democracy event.

Launch of the Bingham Centre

Click here to read about the launch of the Bingham Center on the 6th December and to watch a short video of the evening.

Interview by Joshua Rozenberg

Click here to see the British Institute of International and Comparative Law's interview between Joshua Rozenberg and Lord Bingham on the rule of law.

Bingham Centre holds a joint seminar with ALBA

Click here to see the Strasbourg and the UK: Dialogue or Conflict.

If you are a US Donor and wish to support us, you can donate online via the American Fund for Charities button (left) and recommend that your donation be given as a grant to The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (AFC 916). Or print and complete this form and send with your donation. For more information please click here.

Patrons of the Bingham Centre