§ Lord Pattenasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the holder of the title and role of Queen's Counsel may have that removed; and, if so, under what circumstances. [HL920]
§ The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg)Barrister or solicitor advocates are appointed as Queen's Counsel as a public recognition of their outstanding legal, professional and advocacy skills. Those barrister and solicitor advocates so appointed continue, however, to be subject to the codes of practice of the General Council of the Bar and Law Society respectively, and so can be disbarred, or struck from the roll, for misconduct. Were this to happen, they would retain their Queen's Counsel status but would be unable to practise. In cases of gross misconduct, it is open to the Lord Chancellor to recommend to Her Majesty that the appointment as Queen's Counsel is also revoked.