Around 650 people are expected to attend this year’s Justice Service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral – the biggest of its kind ever held at the historic venue.

East Anglian Daily Times: St Edmundsbury CathedralSt Edmundsbury Cathedral (Image: (c) copyright citizenside.com)

The service, on Sunday March 12, marks the end of the year in office of Suffolk’s High Sheriff and is attended by representatives of the legal and criminal justice system.

The current High Sheriff William Kendall will be joined at the service by his wife Miranda and daughters Emily and Sophia Kendall.

The Reverend Canon Philip Banks said: “One of the hallmarks of our British way of life is that the rule of law, to ensure justice for all, is maintained by a judiciary independent of government.

“We live in challenging times, and this principle is more important than ever.

“At the annual service for HM Courts of Justice we pray for and affirm all involved in the criminal justice system, and give thanks for their expertise and commitment to fairness and protection for all citizens.”

The office of High Sheriff stretches back more than a thousand years.

It has traditionally provided support for the administration of justice in the county but the modern role extends into a close relationship with the fast-growing voluntary sector in Suffolk.

During his year in office, the High Sheriff has visited numerous voluntary organisations as well as those committed to delivering justice.

He has seen at first hand the vital work being done which enables the county to function.

Many of the volunteers have been invited to this service, which celebrates their work.

The speaker at the afternoon service this year is David Anderson QC, Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation (2011-2017).

Mr Anderson practises from Brick Court Chambers in EU, public and human rights law.

This month he completes six years as Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, reading classified material and consulting as widely as possible in order to inform the political, legal and public debate on terrorism, surveillance and extremism.

Mr Anderson used to sit as a Recorder, principally in East Anglia, and is now a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Guernsey and Jersey and a Visiting Professor at King’s College London.