The Five Supreme Court Justices Presiding Over the Motor Finance Supreme Court Hearing
As the motor finance commission mis-selling scandal reaches the highest court in the land, attention turns to the five senior Justices of the UK Supreme Court who will decide a case with monumental implications for UK consumers, financial transparency, and future mis-selling redress claims. The hearing, expected to be one of the most consequential in recent legal history, will be presided over by:
- Lord Reed (President of the Supreme Court)
- Lord Hodge (Deputy President)
- Lord Lloyd-Jones
- Lord Briggs
- Lord Hamblen
Each of these Justices brings a wealth of experience, legal intellect, and a commitment to justice. Their decision will set a defining precedent for the treatment of undisclosed motor finance commission payments in consumer car finance agreements.
Lord Reed – President of the Supreme Court
Lord Robert Reed has been President of the Supreme Court since 2020. A distinguished jurist and former law professor, Lord Reed is known for his meticulous legal reasoning and emphasis on constitutional and human rights principles. He has a reputation for balancing detailed legal interpretation with fairness, making him a pivotal voice in consumer protection-related decisions.
His judgments often explore not just what the law is, but what it should aspire to be. Lord Reed’s leadership ensures that this case will receive the analytical rigour it demands.
Lord Hodge – Deputy President
Lord Patrick Hodge is a respected authority in both commercial and public law. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he served as a Lord of Session in Scotland and held senior legal advisory positions. His expertise in financial regulation, commercial disputes and contractual law will be especially relevant in dissecting the structure and implications of discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs).
Lord Hodge is known for his precise, technical judgments and his grasp of the underlying commercial realities in complex financial disputes.
Lord Lloyd-Jones
With a background as a Law Commissioner and expert in international and administrative law, Lord Lloyd-Jones brings a balanced and principled approach to judicial reasoning. He has dealt with a variety of regulatory and consumer-related cases, and his inclusion on the panel signals a focus on public interest, fairness, and regulatory compliance.
He has often emphasised the rule of law and the need for clarity in the obligations of financial services firms, particularly under FCA rules.
Lord Briggs
Lord Michael Briggs has long been associated with civil justice reform, particularly improving access to justice. His work on the development of online court systems and procedural efficiency reflects a commitment to ensuring that legal processes work for ordinary individuals.
As a former commercial and chancery judge, Lord Briggs is deeply familiar with the structure of car finance agreements, lender-broker relationships, and legal duties of disclosure. His experience makes him well-placed to assess whether non-disclosure of commission breaches the principles of fairness and legality.
Lord Hamblen
Lord George Hamblen is a former commercial barrister with a focus on insurance, shipping, and financial litigation. His commercial acumen and deep understanding of contractual interpretation and fairness are likely to be influential in assessing the agreements between consumers, brokers, and lenders.
His judicial record demonstrates an ability to cut through complexity and focus on the core legal principles of duty, transparency, and consumer protection.
Why Their Judgment Matters to UK Consumers
The decision these five Justices reach will likely have ramifications for millions — if not tens of millions — of UK consumers who may have been mis-sold motor finance agreements through hidden commission models.
It will also send a strong signal to the financial services industry about the standards of commission disclosure, regulatory compliance, and treating customers fairly under the FCA’s consumer duty.
If the Supreme Court finds in favour of consumers, it could unlock tens of billions of pounds in compensation and establish a new benchmark for how fairness and transparency are applied in financial contracts.
Conclusion: A Landmark Ruling in the Making
With a panel of Justices as experienced, principled, and analytically rigorous as Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Briggs and Lord Hamblen, we trust the consumer rights and fairness are being considered at the very highest level of legal authority.
This is not just a test case on motor finance mis-selling — it is a litmus test for how justice, consumer rights, and transparency are upheld in the modern financial era.
The upcoming judgment has the potential to reshape and improve the landscape of car finance claims, redefine legal obligations in financial services, and restore confidence in fair outcomes for ordinary consumers across the UK.