UCL Laws has launched its new Judicial Institute, the UK’s first and only centre of excellence in research, teaching, policy engagement and scholarship on the judiciary. Often referred to as the ‘third arm’ of government, the judicial system is of crucial importance to legal decision-making in this country, with a profound impact on all areas of society and all citizens. However, the UK’s judiciary has never been subject to broad academic scrutiny, despite the fact that such study is widespread and a greater part of legal teaching and research in other countries, such as the US. The creation of UCL’s new Judicial Institute will address that gap, creating a better and more thorough understanding of the judicial system and its workings. The Institute is dedicated to the ongoing study of how judges are appointed, how they reach decisions, the operation of the courts, and the relationship between the judiciary, other social institutions and other branches of government. Its aim is to inform this vital area of legal practice, through teaching, research and public policy engagement.