Now on bbc news, its time for hardtalk. Welcome to hardtalk, im stephen sackur. The british legal system has long enjoyed an International Reputation for independence, integrity and efficiency, but for how much longer . Seniorjudges, lawyers and Police Officers are voicing concern about a judicial system close to breaking point. My guest today is the most seniorjudge in the land, president of the uks Supreme Court, lady hale. Is one of the worlds most admired Justice Systems failing the people it is supposed to serve . Lady hale, welcome to hardtalk. You have had a seat on the Supreme Court since its Foundation Ten years ago. It is something new in the british constitution, do you think it is made a difference . Its made a bit of a difference. There was of course always a top court for the whole United Kingdom, but we used to be a committee of the house of lords. And then in 2009 we became this brand new institution, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. So we moved out of the houses of parliament, across the square, into the old middlesex guildhall where we have a very beautiful, open, transparent, accessible building where we do the same job that we did before. And that is interesting. That creation of a sort of clear, blue water between you and parliament. Do you think it has changed the Public Perception of the uks most senior court, the top of the pyramid, if you like . I dont know whether its changed the publics perception of us, its certainly means the public are more aware of us because they can watch what were doing, they can wander in off the square, you know, people do. You were you judges sitting on the Supreme Court opened your proceedings up to both livestreaming on the internet and the television, something unheard of in the british system, why . Because we thought it was important that people knew what we were doing. We are serving the people. Yes, i understand that. Was there a question in your mind about the nature of public belief in confidence in the judicial system in this country . Well, we are a very small part of thejudicial system. We are a sort of cherry at the top of the cake. We are only dealing in points of law of general public importance. Were not trying criminals, were not trying civil orfamily cases. We are a second tier appeal court. So we are very different. But youre the ultimate arbiter, and some of the most difficult moral, ethical and legal cases in the land which have been tested, almost to destruction in the lower courts, they come to you for that final arbitration, so you matter a very great deal, if not at least in symbolic terms, to the health of the entire system. Yes. And i put it you that the health of the system right now does not look good. In fact, your predecessor as head of the Supreme Court talked about what he saw as the imminent breakdown of the rule of law in the United Kingdom today. That is probably not something that its appropriate for me to talk about while im currently in post, as opposed to after i have retired. But what i would say, was i really want to make clear, that there is a distinction between the law, the rules that constitute the law, which is what were concerned with, and the running of theJustice System that is the courts, the tribunals, also the police, the crown prosecution service, all of that, which is something separate from what we are mainly concerned about. But would not be right to say that you have to care about the running of that system at all levels . Yes. Because in the end it comes back to this word ive already used, confidence, and one of the fellow members of the Supreme Court, lord reed, said just the other day marking this ten Year Anniversary of the Supreme Court, he said the greatest challenge ofjudging is perhaps to ensure that all segments of the community have confidence in the administration ofjustice. So if there are big problems developing in the administration ofjustice, from the bottom up, you have to care about it. Of course we care, of course we care. But we its not something that its in our hands to do much about. Thats why i was drawing the distinction between the state of the law, which we can do something about, and the state of the Justice System, which all we can do is care and complain in the right way. Well, i was going to say you have the most extraordinary bully pulpit because ultimately you are the most seniorjudge in the land and if you see things going on. And lets get specific now. Lets talk about the way in which cuts to resource to the ministry ofjustice, to key programmes like legal aid, which give Financial Assistance to give legal representation to those who can least afford it. When you see resources being taken out of that system, for example, it must concern you . Of course, of course, because its essential to any Justice System that it is accessible to the people who need it. Now, i dont confuse access to justice with access to lawyers. Theyre not necessarily the same thing, but they often are. And so people who cant afford legal representation or legal help or legal advice, cause those are three different things,