Williamson v Bishop of London (2023)

The Court of Appeal, upholding decisions by the ET and EAT, have held in Williamson v Bishop of London (2023) that any kind of legal proceedings, including employment tribunal proceedings, that have been instigated by an individual who is the subject of a Civil Proceedings Order (CPO), without first having obtained permission to commence those proceedings from the High Court, is null and void. This remains the case even where leave to proceed is obtained from the High Court later, as such permission cannot be applied retrospectively. The appellant had brought a claim in the employment tribunal for "age discrimination in relation to the termination of [his] tenure as Priest-in-Charge at the Parish of St George, Hanworth, when he reached the age of 70" without having first obtained the leave of the High Court.