The celebrated former Supreme Court judge, Jonathan Sumption, used last year's Reith lectures to warn that "law's expanding Empire" was encroaching onto contentious fields where things are better settled by democratic politics than the courts. This year, he has warned against the lengthening arm of the law in the context of the coronavirus lockdown.

So are democracy and the rule of law both at risk? Or should we be grateful that we have judges who are willing to be proactive in defending individual rights, and politicians who can act dramatically and swiftly to safeguard the public good?

This discussion is kindly supported by Jones Day and the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law.

Speakers include:

Moderator — Joshua Rozenberg QC (hon)

Lord Jonathan Sumption

Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret), Of Counsel, Jones Day