Courts and Tribunals Judiciary | Biographies of the Court of Appeal judges Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Advice for Litigants in Person Biographies of the Court of Appeal judges Details of the careers to date of the Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal and the Heads of Division who sit in the Court of Appeal. All Judges of the Court of Appeal are made members of the Privy Council. Lady Justice Arden Dame Mary Arden was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1971. As Head of International Judicial Relations for England and Wales, she is responsible for liaison with leading courts across the world. She is also a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and an ad hoc judge of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. She has held a number of other public appointments, including: Chair of the Law Commission of England and Wales (1996-9), and member of the Steering Group of the Company Law Review established by the Department of Trade and Industry (1998-2001). She wrote the first Chancery Guide and has sat on committees concerned with access to justice by litigants in person.

She has written and lectured on a wide range of legal subjects. She was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1971 and appointed a High Court judge in 1993, the first woman judge to be assigned to the Chancery Division. She was appointed a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2000. Lord Justice Bean Sir David Bean was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1976. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1992, Recorder in 1996 and Queen’s Counsel in 1997. He was Chairman of the Bar Council in 2002. He was appointed a judge of the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) in July 2004, served as a Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit from 2007 to 2010, and was a Judicial Appointments Commissioner from October 2010 to March 2014. In August 2015 Lord Justice Bean became Chair of the Law Commission. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in October 2014.

Lord Justice Beatson Sir Jack Beatson was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1972, and was appointed an honorary Bencher in 1993. He was a member of the Law Commission of England and Wales between 1989 and 1994 and Rouse Ball Professor of English Law at the University of Cambridge between 1994 and 2003. He was a Recorder from 1994-2003. In 1998 he was appointed as a QC and a Deputy High Court Judge from 2000- 2003. He was a Judge of the High Court of Justice Queen’s Bench Division from 2003-2013. From 2009-2012, he served as the Queen’s Bench Liaison Judge for Midlands and Wales Circuits. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2013. Lady Justice Black Dame Jill Black was called to the Bar (inner Temple) in 1976. In 1994 she was appointed as Queen’s Counsel and became a Deputy High Court Judge in 1996.

She became a Recorder in 1999. She was appointed to the High Court on 1st October 1999, assigned to the Family Division, she also sat in the Administrative Court. She served as Family Division Liaison Judge on the Northern Circuit from 2000-2004. In 2004 she became the Chairman of the Judicial Studies Board’s Family Committee, until her appointment to the Judicial Appointments Commission in 2008 as a judicial member. She was appointed a Lady Justice of Appeal on 15 June 2010. She is the Head of International Family Justice. Lord Justice Briggs Sir Michael Briggs was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1978. He was Junior Counsel to the Crown Chancery from 1988 -1994. He was appointed as a QC in 1994. From 1999 to 2000 he was chairman of the Bar Council’s Law Reform Committee. He was made a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 2001.

Later in 2001 he was appointed as the Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster; a position he held until 2006. He was a High Court Chancery Judge from 2006-2013, and the Vice Chancellor of the County of Palatine of Lancaster from 2012-2013. He was the Judge in charge of the Chancery Modernisation Review in 2013. Lord Justice Briggs has been the Personal Support Unit liaison judge since 2013. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in April 2013. On 1 January 2016 he was appointed Deputy Head of Civil Justice Lord Justice Burnett Sir Ian Burnett was born on 28 February 1958. He was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1980 and elected a Bencher in 2001. He was in practice as a barrister from Temple Garden Chambers between 1982 and 2008 (Head of Chambers, 2003–08).

He was Junior Counsel to the Crown, Common Law between 1992 and 98 and became Queen’s Counsel in 1998. He was an Assistant Recorder between 1998 and 2000, a Recorder between 2000 and 2008 and a Deputy High Court Judge in 2008. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division in 2008. He was Deputy Chairman of the Security Vetting Appeals Panel between 2009 and 2014 and Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit from 2011 to 2014. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on 6 October 2014 Lord Justice Christopher Clarke Sir Christopher Clarke was called to the Bar in Middle Temple in 1969. He was appointed as a QC in 1984. From 1990-2004 he was a Recorder and a Deputy High Court Judge from 1993-2004.

He was a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey from 1998 to 2004. From 2005- 2013, he was a High Court Judge, sitting in the Commercial Court. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2013. Lord Justice David Richards Sir David Richards was called to the Bar in 1974 (Inner Temple). He was in practice at the Bar from 1975 to 2003. He was Junior Counsel to the Department of Trade and Industry (Chancery) 1989 to 1992 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992. He was appointed a High Court Judge (Chancery Division) in 2003 and a chairman of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in 2004. He was the Chancery Supervising Judge for the Northern and North Eastern Circuits and Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster from 2008 to 2011.

He was chairman of the Insolvency Rules Committee from 2005 to 2015 and is co-chair of the Judicial Committee of the International Insolvency Institute. He was elected a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 2000 and is chairman of its Finance and General Purposes Committee. He is a General Editor of Buckley on the Companies Acts (14th ed.). On 16 November 2015 he was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal. Lord Justice Davis Sir Nigel Anthony Lamert Davis was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1975. In 1992 he became a Queen’s Counsel. He was appointed an assistant Recorder in 1995 and a Recorder in 1998. He was appointed to the High Court of Justice in 2001, assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. He served as a Presiding Judge on the Wales (formerly Wales and Chester) Circuit from 2006 to 2009. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2011. Lord Justice Elias Sir Patrick Elias was called to the Bar in 1973 (Inner Temple).

He became a Bencher in 1995 and served as Assistant Recorder from 1997 to 1999. He was appointed Deputy High Court Judge in January 1999 and four months later, in May 1999, he was named Judge of the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division. He was President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal from 2006 to 2008. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2009. Sir Terence Etherton, Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton was called to the Bar in 1974 and was in practice at the Chancery Bar between 1975 – 2000. He was sworn in as a QC in 1990. Between 2001- 2008 he was a High Court Judge in the Chancery Division. He was the Chairman of the Law Commission of England and Wales from 2006-2009. From 2009-2012, he was the President of the Councils of the Inns of Court.

He was appointed The Master of the Rolls on 3 October 2016. He is chairman of the Trust Law Committee and President of the Property Bar Association. He is a member of the editorial board of the Conveyancing and Property law and a patron of the Birkbeck Law Review. He is a visiting law professor at Birkbeck, London University, and at Kent University. He is an honorary fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, and Royal Holloway, London University, and has an honorary LL.D from City University. He was appointed Master of the Rolls on 3 October 2016. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008. Lord Justice Flaux Sir Julian Flaux was called to the Bar in 1978 and practised at the Commercial Bar from 1979 to 2007 specialising in disputes involving insurance and reinsurance, shipping, international trade and professional negligence. He was appointed a QC in 1994, an Assistant Recorder of the Crown Court in 1997, a Recorder in 2000 and Deputy High Court Judge in 2002.

He was appointed a High Court Judge in May 2007. He was Presiding Judge of the Midland Circuit from 2010 to 2013. He was Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court from July 2014 to December 2015 and President of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission from January to December 2016. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in December 2016. Lord Justice Floyd Sir Christopher Floyd was called to the bar at Inner Temple in 1975 and became a Bencher of his inn in 2001. In 1988, he was called to the bar of the Republic of Ireland and in 1992 was appointed a Queen’s Counsel. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1994 and a Recorder in 2000, being authorised as a deputy High Court judge and assigned to the Patents Court in 1998. He served as Deputy Chairman of the Copyright Tribunal from 1995 to 2007. He was appointed a High Court judge in 2007, and assigned to the Chancery Division.

He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on 9 April 2013. Lord Justice Fulford, Senior Presiding Judge Sir Adrian Fulford was made a Recorder of the Crown Court in 1995 (re-appointed in 2001). He became a High Court judge on 21 November 2002. He was appointed to the Queen’s Bench Division. Though he became a judge of the International Criminal Court in 2003, he continued his work at the High Court, presiding over a number of high-profile cases. He was elected to serve as one of the 18 judges of the International Criminal Court in 2003 for a term of nine years, and is assigned to the Trial Division. He was sworn into office on 11 March 2003. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on 10 May 2013. Lord Justice Fulford was appointed Deputy Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales, on 1 January 2015. He was appointed Senior Presiding Judge on 1 January 2016.

Lady Justice Gloster Dame Elizabeth Gloster was called to the Bar, Inner Temple in 1971 and became a Bencher in 1992. She was appointed as a QC in 1989. From 1993-2004 she was a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey. She was a Recorder from 1995 until 2004. She was appointed as the Judge in charge of the Commercial Court from 2010-2012. She was appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal on 9 April 2013. Lord Justice Gross Sir Peter Gross was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1977, and became Queen’s Counsel in 1992. He sat as a Recorder from 1995 until 2001, and chaired the London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association from 1995 until 1997. He also chaired the Bar Education & Training Committee (1998 – 2000) and the Bar International Relations Committee (2001).

Appointed a Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division in 2001, he was designated a Judge of the Commercial Court in 2002, and was Judge in Charge of Commercial Court from 2009 to 2010. He was Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit (2005 – 2008); and was designated a Judge of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in 2009. He was appointed Deputy Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales in October 2011 and in January 2013, he became Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2010. Lady Justice Hallett Dame Heather Carol Hallett was called to the Bar in 1972. In 1989 she became a QC and a Recorder of the Crown Court. She became a Bencher of Inner Temple in 1993. She served as Leader of the South Eastern Circuit between 1995 and 1997 and Chairman of the Bar of England and Wales in 1998.

She was appointed as a High Court Judge in 1999 and assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. She became a Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit shortly thereafter. She was a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission from 2006 to 2010 (latterly its Vice Chairman). She was the Chairman of the Judicial College from 2010 to 2014. In 2011 she was appointed Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division and served as Treasurer of Inner Temple. In 2013 she was appointed Vice President of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division. Lady Justice Hallett acted as Coroner at the inquest into the deaths of the 52 victims of the July 7th London bombings. She was appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2005. Lord Justice Hamblen Sir Nicholas Hamblen was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1981 and practised at the Commercial Bar from 1982-2008. He was appointed Queens Counsel in 1997, an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and a Recorder in 2000.

He was appointed to sit as a Justice in the High Court in November 2008 and was a nominated Commercial Court Judge. In February 2016 he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal. Lord Justice Henderson Sir Launcelot Henderson was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1977, and was made a Bencher in 2004. He was Standing Junior Counsel to the Inland Revenue from 1992 to 1995, when he became a QC. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2001, and became a High Court Judge of the Chancery Division in 2007. He was also appointed a Chairman of the Competition Appeal Tribunal in 2007. He was a member of the Civil Procedure Rules Committee from 2009 to 2012, and chaired the Judges’ Council Standing Committee on Judicial Library Provision from 2008 to 2013. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on 3 November 2016. He has been a Distinguished Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, since 2008.

Lord Justice Irwin Sir Stephen Irwin was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1976. He practised in criminal and civil cases, specialising in clinical negligence, enquiries and scientific tort cases. He was a founder member of Doughty Street Chambers. He was appointed QC in 1997, Assistant Recorder in 1999 and Recorder in 2000. He was Chairman of the Bar Council in 2004. He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 2006. Between October 2007 and July 2012 he was a Presiding Judge on the Northern Circuit. He was Chairman of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission from January 2013 until December 2015. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in October 2016. Lord Justice Jackson He was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1972. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1987. He was co-author and general editor of Jackson and Powell on Professional Negligence from 1982 to 1999. Since then he has been consultant editor.

He has been an editor of the White Book since 2000 and editor-in-chief since 2010. In 1999 he was appointed as a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division. He was the Judge in Charge of the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) between 2004 and 2007. In January 2009 he was asked by the Master of the Rolls to undertake a comprehensive review of civil litigation costs. He produced a Preliminary Report in May 2009. The Final Report was published in January 2010. Most of the recommendations were implemented in 2013. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008. Lady Justice King Lady Justice King was called to the Bar at Inner Temple in 1979. She was appointed as a QC in 1999. She was made a Bencher of Inner Temple in 2008.

In 2008, Lady Justice King was appointed to the High Court within the Family Division and was the Family Division Liaison Judge, firstly to the Northern Circuit and then the Midland Circuit from 2010 to 2014. In October 2014, she was appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal. Lord Justice Kitchin Sir David Kitchin was called to the Bar in 1977, appointed a QC in 1994 and elected a Bencher of Gray’s Inn in 2003. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court, Chancery Division in 2005 and Senior Judge of the Patents Court in 2007. He was the Chancery Supervising Judge for the Midland, Wales and Western Circuits from 2009-2011 and during that time he was also a member of the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2011. Sir Brian Leveson, President of the Queen’s Bench Division Sir Brian Leveson was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1970.

He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986 and a Recorder of the Crown Court in 1988. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court, and assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division, in 2000, and served as a Presiding Judge of the Northern circuit between 2002 and 2005 when he was appointed to the new position of Deputy Senior Presiding Judge. He became a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2006 and was Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales for three years ending in December 2009. In July 2011, he was appointed to chair the Inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the Press; his report was published in November 2012. In December 2009 he was appointed as Chairman-designate of the Sentencing Council which had been established under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. He was chairman until October 2013 when he was appointed President of the Queens Bench Division.

Lord Justice Lewison Sir Kim Lewison was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1975, and was made a Bencher in 1998. He became a Queens Counsel in 1991. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1994 and a Recorder in 1997. He became a Deputy High Court Judge in 2000. He was appointed to the High Court of Justice High Court of Justice, Chancery Division 2003 and, the following year, he was appointed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. He served as Chancery Supervising Judge from 2007 to 2009. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on 3 October 2011. Lord Justice Lindblom The Rt. Hon. Sir Keith John Lindblom was called to the Bar in 1980 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1996, a recorder in 2001 and a deputy High Court judge in 2009. He was appointed as a judge of the High Court in 2010.

In January 2013 he was appointed President of the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber, in April 2014 he was appointed as lead judge of the Planning Court. In November 2015 he was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal. Lord Justice Lloyd Jones Sir David Lloyd Jones was called to the bar in 1975 (Middle Temple). From 1975 to 1991 he was a Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge. He became a Recorder in 1994 and served as a Junior Crown Counsel (Common Law) from 1997 to 1999. He became a Queen’s Counsel in 1999. He was appointed as a High Court judge in 2005, and was assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. He served as a Presiding Judge on the Wales Circuit and Chair of the Lord Chancellor’s Standing Committee on the Welsh Language from 2008 to 2011. From August 2012 to August 2015 he was Chair of the Law Commission. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2012.

Lord Justice Longmore Sir Andrew Longmore was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in November 1966. In April 1983 he was appointed as a QC. He was appointed Recorder of Crown Court in April 1992. On October 20th he was appointed a High Court Judge. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on 11 January 2001. Lady Justice Macur Dame Julia Macur was called to the Bar in 1979, and was a practicing barrister in the Midland and Oxford Circuit between 1979 and 2005. In 1998 she was appointed Queen’s Counsel, and was Assistant Recorder and then Recorder of the Crown Court between 1995 and 2005, when she was appointed Judge of the High Court of Justice (Family Division). She was Presiding Judge of the Midland Circuit between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2011. In November 2012, she was appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice and the Secretary of State for Wales to the North Wales Child abuse inquiry.

She was appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal on 31 July 2013. Lady Justice Macur was appointed Deputy Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales, with effect from 1 January 2016. Lord Justice McCombe Sir Richard McCombe was called to the Bar in 1975, Lincoln’s Inn, and was elected a Bencher in 1996. He was the second junior counsel to the Director-General of Fair Trading from 1982- 1987. In 1987 he became first junior counsel, which he served as until 1989, and was also appointed as Queen’s Counsel. He became an Assistant Recorder in 1993 and a Recorder in 1996. In 1998 he was appointed as a Deputy High Court judge. Between 1996-2001, he served as Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster. On 11th January 2001, he was appointed to the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division. From 2004-2007, he served as Presiding Judge on the Northern Circuit.

He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal on 26 October 2012, Lord Justice McFarlane Sir Andrew McFarlane was called to the Bar in 1977 and practiced in chambers in Birmingham until 1993 when he moved to specialist family law chambers in London. He appeared at all levels of court including the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights. He was appointed as a QC in 1998. In April 2005 he was appointed to the High Court, Family Division and was for 5 years the Family Division Liaison Judge for the Midland Circuit. He was the legal member of the Government ‘Family Justice Review’ Panel. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in July 2011 and now sits full time in the Court of Appeal in London. Lord Justice Moore-Bick Sir Martin Moore-Bick was called to the Bar in 1969 (Inner Temple) and was elected a bencher in 1992. He became a Queen’s Counsel in 1986 and was appointed a Recorder in 1990.

He was appointed to the High Court in 1995; and he was assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division serving in the Commercial Court. He served as Deputy Head of Civil Justice 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2012. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2005. Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division Sir James Munby has been the President of The Family Division since Jan 2013. He was called to the Bar, (Middle Temple) in 1971 and was made a Bencher in 2000. He was appointed as a QC in 1988; a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Family Division from 2000–09, Chairman, Law Commission, 2009-2012 (on secondment). He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2009. Lord Justice Patten Sir Nicholas Patten was born on 7 August 1950 and educated at Tulse Hill School and Christ Church, Oxford where he was an Open Scholar.

He was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1974; took silk in 1988; and was Chairman of the Chancery Bar Association from 1997 to 1999. He became a bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 1997; a Deputy High Court Judge in 1998; and was appointed to the High Court (Chancery Division) in 2000. He served as Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster and Chairman of the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund from 2005 to 2008. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2009. Lady Justice Rafferty Dame Anne Judith Rafferty was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1973, and became Queen’s Counsel in 1990. She was appointed a Recorder in 1991, a Deputy High Court Judge in 1996, and was made a Bencher of Gray’s Inn in 1998.

She was appointed to the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) in 2000 and was a Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit between 2003 and 2006. She was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Judicial College on 1 July 2014, for a three-year term commencing on 1 August 2014. She was appointed a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2011. Lord Justice Ryder, Senior President of Tribunals Sir Ernest Ryder was called to the Bar in 1981, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997. He became a Recorder in 2000. He was appointed a High Court judge, and assigned to the Family Division in 2004. He was the judge in charge of the Family Modernisation review in 2012. He succeeded Sir Jeremy Sullivan as Senior President of tribunals in September 2015. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2013. Lord Justice Sales Sir Philip Sales was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1985.

He was appointed First Treasury Junior Counsel (Common Law) in 1997. He became a QC in 2006 and continued to act in the re-named post of First Treasury Counsel (Common Law) until his appointment to the High Court, Chancery Division in 2008. He was an Assistant Recorder, 1999–2001; Recorder, 2001–08; and Deputy High Court Judge, 2004–08. He has been a member of the Competition Appeal Tribunal since 2008 and was appointed as Vice-President of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal in 2014. He was Deputy Chair of the Boundary Commission for England, 2009-2014. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2014. Lady Justice Sharp Dame Victoria Sharp was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1979. She became a Recorder in 1998-2008. She was appointed as a Justice of the High Court in 2009, and was assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division.

She was a Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit from 2012 to 2013. She was appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2013. She was appointed as the Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division on 1 January 2016. Lord Justice Simon Sir Peregrine Simon was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1973 and became a Bencher in 1999. He was in practice at the Commercial Bar from 1975 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1991. He became an Assistant Recorder (1993) and Recorder (1998) on the North-Eastern Circuit, and was appointed to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in 1999. He was appointed a High Court Judge (Queens’ Bench Division) in 2002, authorised to sit in the Commercial Court and SIAC. He was Presiding Judge of the North-Eastern Circuit and served as a member of the Judge’s Council from 2006 to 2008. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in October 2015.

The Right Honourable The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1969 and became a Bencher at the Inn in 1992. He practiced at the Commercial Bar in London from 1971 and became a Queen’s Counsel in 1984. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of England and Wales in 1996 and was assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division and to the Commercial Court. From 1998-2001 he was one of the Presiding Judges of the Wales and Chester Circuit. He was Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court in London from April 2002 to July 2003, when he was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal. He has been a member of the Judges’ Council since 2002. He was the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales from 2003 to 2006.

From 2008 to October 2011 he was Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division and President of the Queen’s Bench Division from October 2011 to October 2013. He was President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary from May 2008 to December 2010. He has been Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales since October 2013. He is Past President of the British Insurance Law Association and a Vice-President of the British Maritime Law Association. Lord Justice Tomlinson Sir Stephen Tomlinson was called to the Bar in 1974 (Inner Temple) and became a Queen’s Counsel in 1988. Appointed Recorder in 1995 and a Deputy High Court judge in 1996. In 2000, he was appointed to the High Court of Justice, and was assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. In 2003/4 he was Judge in charge of the Commercial Court. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2011.

Lord Justice Treacy Sir Colman Treacy was called to the Bar, Middle Temple in 1971, and became a Bencher in 1999. He was appointed as a QC in 1990. He was an Assistant Recorder 1988-91; a Recorder 1991-2002. He was Head of Chambers from 1994 to 2000. He was appointed to the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) in 2002. He was a Presiding Judge of the Midland Circuit, from 2006 until 2010. He has been the Chair of the Sentencing Council for England and Wales since 2013, having been a Member since 2010. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in October 2012. Lord Justice Underhill Sir Nicholas Underhill was called to the bar by Gray’s Inn in 1976. He became a QC in 1992. He was appointed a Recorder in 1994 and authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in 1998.

From 2000 to 2003 he was a part-time Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal. He was appointed a High Court Judge in 2006 and assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division. He was re-appointed a Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal and was its President from 2009 to 2011. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2013. Lord Justice Vos, Chancellor of the High Court Sir Geoffrey Vos was called to the Bar in 1977, and took silk (QC) in 1993. He was appointed as a Justice of the High Court assigned to the Chancery Division in October 2009. Between 2005 – 2009 he was a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey, and a Judge of the Court of Appeal of the Cayman Islands between 2008 and 2009. He sat as a Deputy High Court Judge from 1999 until 2009. He was the Chairman of the Bar Council in 2007.

He became President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary in January 2015. Sir Geoffrey was appointed Chancellor of the High Court of England and Wales with effect from 24 October 2016. He was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2013. Ex-Olympic fencer Sir Terence Etherton to become Master of the Rolls - Evening Express Ex-Olympic fencer Sir Terence Etherton to become Master of the Rolls Email Sir Terence Etherton – who made legal history almost a decade ago when he became the first openly gay judge to be made a Lord Justice of Appeal – has been appointed as the second most senior judge in England and Wales. The 64-year-old former Olympic fencer, who is currently Chancellor of the High Court, will succeed Lord Dyson as Master of the Rolls when he retires in October. The announcement was made by Downing Street on Thursday. Sir Terence became a High Court judge in 2001. When he was made a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008, he said his appointment “shows that diversity in sexuality is not a bar to preferment up to the highest levels of the judiciary”.

He entered a civil partnership in 2006 and in 2014, after a change in the law, he and partner Andrew Stone were married in a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony at West London Synagogue. Sir Terence, who studied history and law at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, was in the British sabre team from 1977 to 1980 and qualified for the 1980 summer Olympics in Moscow. He became chancellor in 2013. The Master of the Rolls – a position which dates back to at least the 13th century – is the head of civil justice and the second most senior judge – after the Lord Chief Justice – in England and Wales. The Master of the Rolls is president of the Court of Appeal’s civil division, which hears appeals on the full range of civil, family and tribunal cases. Downing Street said in a statement that the appointment of Sir Terence “was made by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor following the recommendation of an independent selection panel” chaired by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas. Lord Thomas said: “I am delighted to congratulate Sir Terence Etherton on his appointment as Master of the Rolls.

“Following his excellent work as Chancellor over the last three years, I look forward to continuing to work with him closely in the major reform of our system of justice.” Recommended Reading Appointment of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales - Press releases - GOV.UK Appointment of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales From: First published: 16 July 2013 This news article was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government The Rt Hon Sir John Thomas is appointed as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of The Rt Hon Sir John Thomas as the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1 October 2013. This appointment follows the retirement of The Rt Hon The Lord Judge on 30 September 2013. Notes to editors Biography of candidate Sir John Thomas was born in Wales and educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he read law, after which he became a Commonwealth Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. He was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1969 and became a Bencher at the Inn in 1992.

He practiced at the Commercial Bar in London from 1971 and became a Queen’s Counsel in 1984. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1984 and a Recorder in 1987. He was an Inspector into the affairs of Mirror Group Newspapers plc when that company was owned by the late Mr Robert Maxwell. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of England and Wales in 1996 and was assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division and to the Commercial Court. From 1998-2001 he was one of the Presiding Judges of the Wales and Chester Circuit. He was Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court in London from April 2002 to July 2003, when he was appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal. He has been a member of the Judges’ Council since 2002. He was the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales from 2003 to 2006. From 2008 to October 2011 he was Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division. He has been President of the Queen’s Bench Division since October 2011.

He has been Deputy Head of Criminal Justice since 2008 as well as judge in charge of European issues from 2007-2011. He was President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary from May 2008 to December 2010. He is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and a Fellow of the Universities of Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Swansea and Bangor and an Honorary Doctor of Law of the Universities of Glamorgan, the West of England and Wales. He is Vice-President of ARIAS (UK), Past President of the British Insurance Law Association and a Vice-President of the British Maritime Law Association. He is Co-Chairman of the Trustees of the International Law Book Facility. The appointment The appointment of the Lord Chief Justice is made by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor following the recommendation of an independent selection panel chaired by Christopher Stephens, Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission.

The other panel members were: Lord Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court, Dame Valerie Strachan (DCBE), lay member of the JAC, Professor Noel Lloyd (CBE), member of the JAC, and Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls. This selection exercise was run under the relevant sections of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 as amended by the Crime and Courts Act 2013 and was the first time that the panel had a lay member majority. In accordance with section 70 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, as amended by the Crime and Courts Act 2013, the panel determined the selection process to be followed and consulted the Lord Chancellor and the First Minister of Wales on the process followed. In accordance with s.10(3) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 c.54, the selection exercise was open to all applicants who satisfied the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis, or were judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, or High Court.

Share this page Britain's first openly gay judge becomes master of the rolls | Law | The Guardian Judiciary Britain's first openly gay judge becomes master of the rolls Promotion makes Sir Terence Etherton head of civil judiciary and second most senior judge in England and Wales Sir Terence Etherton was a member of the British Olympic fencing team in 1980. Photograph: Judicial Office/PA Thursday 26 May 2016 07.27 EDT Last modified on Thursday 26 May 2016 09.43 EDT Share on Messenger Close Sir Terence Etherton, Britain’s first openly gay senior judge, has been appointed master of the rolls, making him head of the civil judiciary in England and Wales. The 64-year-old lawyer’s promotion was confirmed by an announcement from Downing Street on Thursday morning. Etherton, who has been on the court of appeal and is currently chancellor of the high court, was a member of the British Olympic fencing team for sabre in 1980.

He will be the second most senior judge in England and Wales, outranked only by the lord chief justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd , and will receive a salary of around £220,000. Educated at St Paul’s school in west London and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, Etherton has been a judge since 2001 and was the first to become so while publicly declaring his sexuality. He entered a civil partnership in 2006 with Andrew Stone, which was then converted to a marriage in 2014 in a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony at West London Synagogue. On joining the appeal court in 2008, Etherton said: “My appointment also shows that diversity in sexuality is not a bar to preferment up to the highest levels of the judiciary.” Etherton, who takes up the post in October, succeeds Lord Dyson, who has been master of the rolls since 2012 . Thomas said: “I am delighted to congratulate Sir Terence Etherton on his appointment as master of the rolls.

Following his excellent work as chancellor over the last three years, I look forward to continuing to work with him closely in the major reform of our system of justice.” Topics Etherton named next Master of the Rolls - Litigation Futures Etherton named next Master of the Rolls Etherton: second most senior judge in England and Wales Sir Terence Etherton – the current Chancellor of the High Court – was today named as the new Master of the Rolls. He will take over on 3 October 2016 following the retirement of Lord Dyson. Sir Terence, who is 65 next month, was called to the Bar in 1974 and became a QC in 1990. He was appointed a High Court judge in 2001 and elevated to the Court of Appeal seven years later. He has been chancellor – head of the Chancery Division – since 2013. Much is likely to be made of the fact that he is openly gay and entered into a same-sex marriage in late 2014. From 2006 to 2009, he was chairman of the Law Commission.

He is an honorary fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, and of Royal Holloway, London University; a visiting professor of law of Birkbeck, London University and an honorary professor of law of Kent University. He has an honorary doctorate in law from City University. As head of civil justice – and the second most senior judge in England and Wales after the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Terence will assume the chairmanship of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, the Civil Justice Council, the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives, and the Magna Carta Trust. Sir Terence will also play a key role in the court modernisation programme. In a speech last year, he said that there needed to be investment in the county court to ensure that cases were allocated to the right level of judge and in turn free up time in the higher courts. He also suggested that the financial limits which determine where cases are heard will have to be adjusted. The selection panel was chaired by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas. The other members were the President of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, and three lay Judicial Appointments Commissioners: Dame Valarie Strachan, Professor Emily Jackson and Professor Noel Lloyd.

The Lord Chancellor was “consulted” as part of the selection process, according to a press release issued by Number 10. He was then formally appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor. Lord Thomas said: “I am delighted to congratulate Sir Terence Etherton on his appointment as Master of the Rolls. Following his excellent work as Chancellor over the last three years, I look forward to continuing to work with him closely in the major reform of our system of justice.”

Question: Who is the second-most senior judge in England and Wales after the Lord Chief Justice?
Answer: Master of the Rolls