This week a despairing nation was introduced to the Supreme Court thanks to Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament, the English court's decision to approve his decision, and the Scottish court's decision that he was actually very naughty and lied to the Queen.

To illuminate the workings of this august institution as it heard from one side that Johnson was a pro and from Baron Pannick that he was a rogue, scholarly legal types were prompted by The Secret Barrister to take to Twitter with the hashtag #SupremeCourtFacts.

We learned a lot.

 

There’s going to be a lot of misinformation over the next few days about the Supreme Court, so as a public service, I’d invite lawyers to share some little-known legal facts. I’ll start:

Each Supreme Court judge enters court to their own Diana Ross song.#SupremeCourtFacts

— The Secret Barrister (@BarristerSecret) September 17, 2019

 

The judge who does a full swivel on their chair when he/she sits down at the start of the hearing is the one who will write the leading judgment. #SupremeCourtFacts

— ToryTrojanHorse* (@ToryTrojan) September 17, 2019

 

While in court, judges sit barefoot with their feet in a small paddling pool so they can "draw upon the wisdom of the sea".#SupremeCourtFacts

— Bill Hayes (@billdotmu) September 17, 2019

 

Lady Hale was appointed President of the Supreme Court after catching, gutting and consuming a wild boar in front of the horrified selection panel #supremecourtfacts

— RollOnFriday (@RollOnFridayWeb) September 17, 2019

 

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^{It's all just a bit of fun! For God's Sake start stockpiling medicine}

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Every time a barrister says “my learned friend” the judges all have to raise their glasses, say “my learned friend” and have to take a drink of their beer. The last judge to do this has to drink a shot as a forfeit. #supremecourtfacts

— Alan Greene (@DrAlanGreene) September 17, 2019

 

All Supreme Court judges must be wider at the bottom than at the top. This prevents them from being overturned. #SupremeCourtFacts

— Hannah Ainsworth (@hantasiana) September 17, 2019

 

Lady Black ran a Supreme Court Easter egg hunt until parents realised she was painting all the eggs with skulls #supremecourtfacts

— RollOnFriday (@RollOnFridayWeb) September 18, 2019

 

After the hearing, or "match" as its technically termed, the Judges retire to their team facilities for a warm down and wintergreen rub #SupremeCourtFacts pic.twitter.com/VtcVb4baJ2

— ⚫ Di Middleton QC (@di_middleton_QC) September 17, 2019

 

Every judge is paid directly from EU funds and is an openly gay fencer. All judgments are approved by the President of the Commission. #supremecourtfacts

— Resjudicatamyfoot (@Resjudicatamyft) September 17, 2019

 

When the Supreme Court isn't sitting, each judge is kept in stasis by having all the water molecules removed from their bodies. For this reason, the SC needs advance notice, so they can soak each judge for 48 hours in warm water; like a Pot Noodle. #SupremeCourtFacts

— Craig Harrison (@Dscaper) September 17, 2019

 

Lord Kerr is infamous for going to fancy dress parties dressed as a bear, regardless of the actual theme #supremecourtfacts

— RollOnFriday (@RollOnFridayWeb) September 17, 2019

Only one of the above 'facts' is true.