Professor of Law at Cardiff University, Wales, UK. Writes on Legal History & Law and Religion with focus on marriage law and education law reform. No DMs - please email SandbergR@cf.ac.uk https://linktr.ee/sandbergrlawhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvmu7nwsas2bMy seventh and last blog post looks at how officiants will be regulated. It explains and applauds the proposed system of regulatory bodies (nominated bodies and celebrancy membership of organisations) and a central regulator. https://sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/09/16/untangling-the-knot-a-guide-to-the-consultation-on-wedding-law-reform-chapter-seven-regulation-of-officiants/16 Sep 2026 09:46 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvmu7nwsas2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvlavvypjc25My penultimate post of my guide to the marriage law reform consultation applauds the interim conclusion to include independent celebrants but expresses disbelief at the lengthy attempt to define religion and belief. https://sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/09/15/untangling-the-knot-a-guide-to-the-consultation-on-wedding-law-reform-chapter-six-role-of-officiants/ https://sandbergrlaw.substack.com/p/untangling-the-knot-a-guide-to-the-f3015 Sep 2026 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlavvypjc25https://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvl2mhx4n22tThe Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill has now been published: bills.parliament.uk/bills/4296 Explanatory notes: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/59-02/0150/en/260150en.pdf15 Sep 2026 16:35 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvl2mhx4n22thttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvkcp2pu6k2mPart five of my chapter-by-chapter look at the wedding law consultation looks at locations. Another area where the consultation improves upon the Law Commission’s work: https://sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/09/15/untangling-the-knot-a-guide-to-the-consultation-on-wedding-law-reform-chapter-five-specific-wedding-locations/ https://sandbergrlaw.substack.com/p/untangling-the-knot-a-guide-to-the-57715 Sep 2026 09:27 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkcp2pu6k2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvkbh2el4s2dThat was quick! https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-introduces-repeal-bill-to-remove-outdated-constitutional-rules A welcome sticking plaster but a sticking plaster nonetheless. For background see my previous blog post: https://sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/07/28/andy-burnhams-religion-and-the-constitution-a-note/15 Sep 2026 09:05 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkbh2el4s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvilmc3jsc2xIn the fourth of my chapter-by-chapter blog posts on the wedding law reform consultation, I try to summarise its Dignity Framework and highlight some defects - as well as looking the recommendations on the use of religious or belief elements in ceremonies.14 Sep 2026 17:02 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvilmc3jsc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvhvj4yams26There’s just 10 days left to respond to the wedding law consultation. My latest blog looks at one issue where the proposal needs revising: instead of different rules for what will constitute consent for different officiants, I argue for a universal rule with limited variations.14 Sep 2026 10:26 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvhvj4yams26https://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvak3fkfr22uA fascinating editorial from @stephenmevans.bsky.social on @natsecsoc.bsky.social on a topic on which I am currently researching: [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Sep 2026 12:13 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvak3fkfr22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mvajboogpk2rThe second part of my chapter by chapter guide to the wedding reform consultation looks at preliminaries where there are four technical questions about the modernising and tightening up proposals that will allow some liberalisation in terms of ceremonies: https://sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/09/11/untangling-the-knot-a-guide-to-the-consultation-on-wedding-law-reform-chapter-two-preliminaries/11 Sep 2026 11:58 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvajboogpk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mv5vkgvuwk2uExcellent news. See my earlier blog post on this: https://sandbergrlaw.substack.com/p/andy-burnhams-religion-and-the-constitution [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Sep 2026 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv5vkgvuwk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mv5ucgsgu22gThis is the first in a series of blog posts looking at the wedding law consultation chapter by chapter. It looks at the main features and principles of the proposed reform and is critical of the way in which the Consultation distinguishes between belief and civil officiants.10 Sep 2026 10:38 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv5ucgsgu22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mv3sirr2es23As the Bayeux Tapestry comes to the UK and is on display to the public, my new blog post asks ‘What have the Normans Ever Done for Us’? It is an edited extract from my book ‘A Historical Introduction to English Law: Genesis of the Common Law’ (Cambridge University Press, 2023). (1/2)09 Sep 2026 15:00 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv3sirr2es23https://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3muwvfckavk2rWith the Consultation on wedding law reform closing later this month, my latest blog post identifies five ways in which the proposals could be improved. https://lawandreligionuk.com/2026/09/07/five-suggestions-on-wedding-law-reform/07 Sep 2026 16:09 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3muwvfckavk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3muw2p3spek2nThe Ministry of Justice Consultation on wedding law reform gets so many things right but how could it be improved? In my new blog post, I suggest five tweaks: https://lawandreligionuk.com/2026/09/07/five-suggestions-on-wedding-law-reform/07 Sep 2026 08:11 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3muw2p3spek2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mueyhxz5nk2gSummer Reading Roundup! Much of my reading this summer has had a legal dimension so I thought I’d share my thoughts about novels by @ljshepherd.bsky.social @barristersecret.bsky.social @chrischibnall.bsky.social @robthor.bsky.social and more! https://sandbergrlaw.substack.com/p/summer-reading-roundup31 Aug 2026 13:16 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mueyhxz5nk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mu2h7wslg22pYou can watch me discuss the wedding reform consultation on the Academy of Modern Celebrancy’s Beyond the Ceremony Podcast over on their YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/3R2DpMlJE58?is=bqk1DTYJIz7NMLiV27 Aug 2026 08:41 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu2h7wslg22phttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mttrlis6wk23A privilege to speak today at the United Nations Side-event to mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief organised by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Poland. For the text of my speech, see https://sandbergrlaw.substack.com/p/eight-problematic-ways-in-which-we24 Aug 2026 16:57 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttrlis6wk23https://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mtsr7nz5bc2vIt was great to return as a guest to the Beyond the Ceremony Podcast to discuss the current Government consultation on wedding law reform: https://www.academyofmoderncelebrancy.com/podcast/beyond-the-ceremony-podcast-episode-23-wedding-law-reform-the-consultation-explained-with-sophie-easton-and-russell-sandberg-224 Aug 2026 07:18 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtsr7nz5bc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mrxbgm45xs2gTo find out why this says ‘previous Prime Minister’, check out my latest blog post: https://sandbergrlaw.wordpress.com/2026/07/28/andy-burnhams-religion-and-the-constitution-a-note/31 Jul 2026 15:29 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrxbgm45xs2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mrs7ppgwl22eGreat to see the Women Through the Ages display from Cadw outside Cardiff Central today! To see individual photos, see my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYYib4lw9o/?igsh=cG1ueXE4cndseG0=29 Jul 2026 15:15 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrs7ppgwl22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mrprxwokis27New Blog Post: A quick note on the constitutional significance of Andy Burnham’s religion: https://open.substack.com/pub/sandbergrlaw/p/andy-burnhams-religion-and-the-constitution28 Jul 2026 16:03 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrprxwokis27https://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mrhvr3fl6s2rDelighted to be quoted in this article ⬇️ [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Jul 2026 12:50 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrhvr3fl6s2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/sandbergrlaw.bsky.social/post/3mrht22u74k2hI’m delighted to be cited in this @theguardian.com article about how Andy Burnham’s Catholic faith will affect his new role as Prime Minister : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/25/the-uk-has-its-first-catholic-pm-but-dont-expect-a-us-style-religious-culture-war-to-follow #andyburnham #religion #catholicism25 Jul 2026 12:01 +0000at://did:plc:3kgjhiaezvprejitbeglpbcd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrht22u74k2h