Lords of Appeal, informally called Law Lords, were members of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords. The Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 allowed life peers to be appointed to the upper house for the specific purpose of serving on the committee, and they were called Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. The committee was reconstituted as the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and many incumbent law lords were co-opted. Later-appointed justices have Lord or Lady as a courtesy title.
The coats of arms of many law lords, along with those of other senior judicial officeholders, are displayed on the walls and windows of Lincoln's Inn. They are also recorded in various editions of Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench.
Law Lords appointed by Queen Victoria (1876-1900) Arms Name of Lord (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon Colin Blackburn, Baron Blackburn, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1876-1887 Escutcheon: Argent on a pale Sable three stags' heads erased Argent. Crest: A stag's head erased as in the arms.No arms known. Edward Gordon, Baron Gordon of Drumearn, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1876-1879 No arms known William Watson, Baron Watson, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1880-1899 Escutcheon: Or an oak tree Proper growing out of a mount in base Vert surmounted of a fess Ermine charged with two mullets Azure. Crest: The stump of an oak tree with two branches sprouting from it and grasped on either side by a hand issuing from a cloud all Proper. Supporters: Dexter a highland deerhound Proper; sinister a lion Argent, each charged on the shoulder with a thistle slipped and leaved Proper. Motto: A Deo Floruit John FitzGerald, Baron FitzGerald, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1882-1889 Escutcheon: Ermine a mascle Or over all a saltire Gules. Edward Macnaghten, Baron Macnaghten, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1887-1910 Escutcheon: Quarterly 1st & 4th Argent a cubit arm issuing from the sinister proper the hand grasping a cross crosslet fitchy Azure 2nd & 3rd Argent a tower Gules all within a border Ermine an escutcheon of pretence Argent on a chief indented Azure three martlets Or. Crest: A tower Gules. Supporters: Two roebucks Proper each gorged with a double chain Or pendant therefrom an escutcheon Azure charged with two fasces in saltire Or. Motto: I Hope In God Michael Morris, Baron Morris (later Baron Killanin), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1889-1900 Escutcheon: Ermine a fess indented Sable in base a lion rampant of the last armed and langued Gules. Crest: On a fasces Proper a lion’s head erased Argent gutté de sang. Motto: Si Deus Nobiscum Quis Contra NosNo arms known. James Hannen, Baron Hannen, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1891-1893 No arms known. Charles Bowen, Baron Bowen, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1893-1894 No arms known. Charles Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1894 Escutcheon: Argent a lion rampant Gules on a chief Sable three escallops of the field the whole within a bordure engrailed Vert. Crest: A goat passant Argent armed Or charged on the body with three trefoils slipped fesswise Vert. Supporters: Dexter a goat Or semée of trefoils slipped Vert and gorged with a collar gemel Gules, sinister a Lion reguardant Or semée of escallops Gules and gorged with a like collar. Motto: Che Sera Sera (What Will Be Will Be) Horace Davey, Baron Davey, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1894-1907 Escutcheon: Ermine a chevron Sable between three mullets pierced Gules in the centre chief point a balance Or. Crest: A demi-lion Proper holding between the paws a mullet pierced Gules and supporting under the sinister paw a sword point downwards also Proper hilt and pommel Or. Supporters: On either side a lion gorged with a double chain Gold therefrom pendent a mullet pierced Gules each holding in the paw a sword erect also Proper hilt and pommel Or. Motto: J’Essayerai (What Will Be Will Be) James Robertson, Baron Robertson, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1899-1909 Escutcheon: Gules a fess Ermine between two wolves' heads erased in chief and a banner displayed in base Argent thereon a canton Azure charged with a saltire of the third. Crest: A dexter arm erect Proper charged with an Ermine spot the hand holding an Imperial crown also Proper. Supporters: On either side a wolf Argent charged on the shoulder with a thistle and standing on a fasces both Proper. Motto: Virtutis Gloria Merces (Glory Is The Recompense Of Valour) Nathaniel Lindley, Baron Lindley, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1900-1905 Escutcheon: Argent on a chief nebuly Azure a quatrefoil between two griffin’s heads erased Argent. Crest: In front of a pelican in her piety Argent vulning herself Proper and charged with a pheon point downwards Or three quatrefoils fesswise Or. Supporters: Dexter a Griffin wings elevated Argent standing on a fasces Proper, sinister a pelican wings elevated Argent vulning herself and standing on a fasces Proper. Motto: Sis Fortis (May You Be Brave)
Law Lords appointed by King Edward VII (1905-1909) Arms Name of Lord (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon John Atkinson, Baron Atkinson, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1905-1928 Escutcheon: Per pale Gules and Argent an eagle displayed with two heads counterchanged on a chief engrailed Ermine a rose proper between two martlets Or. Crest: A falcon rising proper belled and jessed Or holding in its beak a Fleur-de-lis per pale Gules and Argent. Supporters: Dexter a figure of Justice proper vested Argent semée of fleurs-de-lis Gules, sinister an eagle proper gorged with a collar flory counter flory and pendent therefrom a Portcullis Or.No arms known. Richard Collins, Baron Collins, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1907-1910 No arms known. Thomas Shaw, Baron Shaw (later Baron Craigmyle), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1909-1929 Escutcheon: Ermine a fir tree growing out of a mount in base Proper between two piles Azure issuing from a chief Gules charged with a scroll Argent with seal pendant Proper. Crest: A demi-savage holding in his dexter hand a club resting on his shoulder Proper. Motto: Misericordia Fidelitas Jus (Mercy Fidelity Right)
Law Lords appointed by King George V (1910-1935) Arms Name of Lord (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon William Robson, Baron Robson, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1910-1912 Blazon not available. Tinctures unknown. Motto: Fac Et Spera John Fletcher Moulton, Baron Moulton, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1912-1921 Escutcheon: Gules four bars per pale Argent and Or two flaunches of the third each charged with a sun of the field. Crest: Upon a mount a lamb statant Proper holding in the mouth a trefoil slipped Vert the whole between four ears of wheat stalked and leaved two on either side also Proper. Robert Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1913-1918 Blazon not available. John Hamilton, Baron Sumner (later Viscount Sumner), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1913-1930 Escutcheon: Ermine a chevron interlaced with another reversed between three cinquefoils Gules. Crest: A deer hound's head couped at the neck Argent charged with two chevrons as in the arms. Motto: Loi Et Loyaute Andrew Murray, 1st Baron Dunedin (later Viscount Dunedin), Lord of Appeal 1913-1932 Motto: Macte Virtute George Cave, 1st Viscount Cave, Lord of Appeal 1918-1922 Escutcheon: Or fretty Azure a cross moline within a bordure nebuly Gules on a chief of the last two greyhounds' heads erased of the first. Crest: A greyhound sejant Or pellettée, resting the dexter leg on a cross moline Gules. Motto: Cave Deus Videt (Beware God Sees) Edward Carson, Baron Carson, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1921-1929 Crest: An elephant statant supporting with the trunk a fasces Or. Escutcheon: Argent on a chevron couped Gules between three crescents Sable two fasces chevronwise Or. Motto: Dum Spiro Spero Robert Younger, Baron Blanesburgh, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1923-1937 Escutcheon: Per saltire Or and Gules a rose counterchanged in base a martlet Sable on a chief indented also Sable three covered cups Or. Crest: An armed leg couped at the thigh proper garnished and spurred Or. Supporters: Dexter the figure of St Blane, sinister an Ermine both Proper standing upon a mount set with thistles. Motto: Celer Et Audax (Quick And Bold)No arms known. James Atkin, Baron Atkin, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1928-1944 No arms known. Thomas Tomlin, Baron Tomlin, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1929-1935 Escutcheon: Argent on a fess between three battle axes Sable three dexter hands Proper. Crest: In front of two battle axes in saltire Proper a hand as in the arms. Supporters: Two lions Purpure each charged with a fascis erect Or. Motto: Aidons Nous Mutuellement Frank Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1929-1946 Escutcheon: Argent a lion rampant Gules on a chief Sable three escallops of the field the whole within a bordure engrailed Vert. Crest: A goat passant Argent armed Or charged on the body with three trefoils slipped fesswise Vert. Supporters: Dexter a goat Or semée of trefoils slipped Vert and gorged with a collar gemel Gules, sinister a Lion reguardant Or semée of escallops Gules and gorged with a like collar. Motto: Che Sera Sera (What Will Be Will Be) No arms known. William Watson, Baron Thankerton, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1929-1948 No arms known. Hugh Macmillan, Baron Macmillan, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1930-1939 No arms known. Robert Wright, Baron Wright, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1932-1935 and 1937-1947 Escutcheon: Azure on a fess between three eagles' heads couped Or a pale between two fleurs-de-lis of the first the pale charged with a fleur-de-lis of the second. Crest: In front of a demi-dragon Or the wings semée of fleur-de-lis Azure a fasces fesswise Sable. Supporters: On either side a pegasus Argent the wings Or semée of fleurs-de-lis Azure. Motto: Mens Aequa Frederic Maugham, Baron Maugham (later Viscount Maugham), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1935-1938 and 1939-1941 Motto: In Finem Perseverans Adair Roche, Baron Roche, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1935-1938 No arms known.
No Lords of Appeal were appointed during Edward VIII's short reign.
Law Lords appointed by King George VI (1938-1951) Arms Name of Lord (including peerage title, if any) and heraldic blazon Mark Romer, Baron Romer, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1938-1944 Escutcheon: Or on a base Vert a man in armour visor raised on the helmet Proper a plume Gules Argent and Azure holding in the dexter gauntlet a halbert Proper headed Or about the waist a sword belt Gules pendant therefrom a sword hilted Or the scabbard Gules garnished Or a crescent in dexter chief for difference Azure. Crest: Out of a ducal coronet Or a demi man in armour as in the arms. Motto: Agere Aut Pati Fortiter Romanum Est Gavin Simonds, Baron Simonds (later Viscount Simonds), Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1944-1951 and 1954-1962 Escutcheon: Tierced in pall Azure Gules and Vert three trefoils slipped Or. Crest: An ermine Proper resting the sinister paw upon the astronomical sign of Taurus Sable and holding in the mouth a trefoil slipped Or. Supporters: On either side an ermine Proper each charged on the shoulder the dexter with an hop leaf and the sinister with a bezant. Motto: Simplex MunditiisNo arms known. Rayner Goddard, Baron Goddard, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1944-1946 No arms known. Augustus Uthwatt, Baron Uthwatt, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1946-1949 Escutcheon: Argent on a bend cotised Sable three pierced mullets of the field. Crest: A stag's Head erased Argent. Motto: Lux In TenebrisNo arms known. Herbert du Parcq, Baron du Parcq, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1946-1949 No arms known. John MacDermott, Baron MacDermott, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1947-1951 No arms known. Wilfrid Normand, Baron Normand, Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1947-1953 No arms known. Geoffrey Lawrence, 1st Baron Oaksey (later Baron Trevethin), Lord of Appeal 1947-1957