List of High Court judges of England and Wales

Last updated

This is a list of justices of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, the puisne judges of the court. They serve in addition to the High Court's ex officio members: [1]

Contents

In addition to the justices, Masters of the High Court (King's Bench Masters, Chancery Masters, Taxing Masters/Costs Judges) and Insolvency and Companies Court Judges also form part of the judiciary of the High Court. Decisions of justices, masters and of Insolvency and Companies Court Judges are of equal standing, both types being judges of the High Court sitting at first instance. [2]

Within months of appointment, male justices are made Knights Bachelor, and female justices are made Dame Commanders of the British Empire (DBE). In addition, all High Court judges are entitled to the judicial style Mr/Mrs/Ms Justice X.

The number of justices of the High Court is limited to 108, [n 1] and the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 mandates that they retire at 75.[ citation needed ]

List of current judges

Category:Articles with hCards

JudgeMandatory retirementDate of appointmentDivisionRole
1 Sir Peter Roth 19 December 20271 October 2009Chancery
2 Dame Lucy Theis 6 November 203515 November 2010Family
3 Sir Robert Hildyard 10 October 20273 October 2011Chancery
4 Dame Beverley Lang 13 October 20303 October 2011King's Bench
5 Sir Mark Turner 27 August 203428 January 2013King's Bench
6 Sir Joseph Keehan 31 March 203513 May 2013Family
7 Sir Robert Jay 20 September 20344 June 2013King's Bench
8 Sir Anthony Hayden 24 June 203631 July 2013Family
9 Sir James Goss 12 May 20281 October 2014King's Bench
10 Dame Maura McGowan 27 January 20321 October 2014King's Bench
11 Sir Robin Knowles 7 April 20351 October 2014King's Bench
12 Sir Ian Dove 31 December 20381 October 2014King's Bench
13 Sir Alistair MacDonald 22 February 20453 June 2015Family
14 Sir Timothy Kerr 15 February 20334 June 2015King's Bench
15 Sir Simon Picken 23 April 20418 June 2015King's Bench
16 Sir Neil Garnham 11 February 20345 November 2015King's Bench
17 Dame Parmjit-Kaur (Bobbie) Cheema-Grubb 6 October 204125 November 2015King's Bench
18 Sir Michael Soole 8 July 202926 November 2015King's Bench
19 Dame Juliet May 21 March 20363 December 2015King's Bench
20 Sir Stephen Morris 18 May 20323 October 2016King's Bench
21 Dame Nerys Jefford 25 December 20373 October 2016King's Bench
22 Sir Nicholas Lavender 7 August 20393 October 2016King's Bench
23 Dame Finola O'Farrell 15 December 203517 October 2016King's Bench
24 Sir Andrew Baker 21 December 20401 November 2016King's BenchJudge in Charge of the Admiralty Court
25 Sir Marcus Smith 1 July 204212 January 2017Chancery
26 Dame Gwynneth Knowles 11 July 20372 October 2017Family
27 Sir Julian Goose 26 July 20362 October 2017King's Bench
28 Sir Simon Bryan 23 November 20402 October 2017King's Bench
29 Sir Martin Spencer 19 June 20312 October 2017King's Bench
30 Sir David Williams 18 June 20392 October 2017Family
31 Sir Julian Knowles 26 January 20442 October 2017King's Bench
32 Dame Amanda Yip 23 April 20442 October 2017King's Bench Deputy Senior Presiding Judge
33 Sir Matthew Nicklin 16 October 20452 October 2017King's Bench
34 Sir Akhlaq Choudhury 23 April 20422 October 2017King's Bench
35 Dame Sara Cockerill 7 November 20431 November 2017King's Bench
36 Dame Christina Lambert 15 August 203911 January 2018King's BenchJudge in Charge King's Bench civil list
37 Sir Timothy Fancourt 30 August 203911 January 2018ChanceryPresident of the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
38 Sir Christopher Butcher 14 August 20375 March 2018King's Bench
39 Sir Richard Jacobs 21 December 203125 June 2018King's Bench
40 Sir David Waksman 28 August 20321 October 2018King's BenchJudge in Charge Technology and Construction Court
41 Dame Johanna Cutts 12 January 20391 October 2018King's Bench
42 Sir Jonathan Swift 11 September 20391 October 2018King's Bench
43 Sir Edward Pepperall 26 December 20411 October 2018King's Bench
44 Sir Edward Murray 3 May 20331 October 2018King's Bench
45 Dame Judith Farbey 21 October 20401 October 2018King's BenchPresident of the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
46 Sir Clive Freedman 16 November 203022 October 2018King's Bench
47 Dame Nathalie Lieven 20 May 203911 January 2019Family
48 Dame Justine Thornton 16 September 204525 February 2019King's Bench
49 Dame Frances Judd 13 February 20363 September 2019Family
50 Dame Jennifer Eady 31 May 20401 October 2019King's BenchPresident of Employment Appeal Tribunal
51 Sir John Cavanagh 17 June 20351 October 2019King's Bench
52 Dame Alison Foster 22 January 20321 October 2019King's Bench
53 Sir William Trower 28 December 20341 October 2019Chancery
54 Sir Martin Griffiths 27 April 20371 October 2019King's Bench
55 Sir Pushpinder Saini 26 February 20431 October 2019King's Bench
56 Sir Jeremy Johnson May 20461 October 2019King's Bench [9]
57 Sir Martin Chamberlain 25 November 20481 October 2019King's BenchJudge in charge of the Administrative Court
58 Dame Karen Steyn 20 October 20451 October 2019King's BenchJudge in charge of the Media and Communications list
59 Sir Nicholas Hilliard 1 May 203418 November 2019King's Bench
60 Sir Andrew Henshaw 22 April 20372 December 2019King's BenchJudge in Charge Commercial Court
61 Dame Amanda Tipples 18 December 20412 December 2019King's Bench
62 Sir Michael Fordham 21 December 203913 January 2020King's Bench
63 Sir David Foxton 14 October 204013 January 2020King's Bench
64 Sir Thomas Linden 26 November 203913 January 2020King's Bench
65 Sir Robert Miles 29 November 203721 April 2020Chancery
66 Sir Richard Meade 14 November 20417 September 2020ChanceryJudge in Charge Intellectual Property
67 Sir Mark Wall 4 March 20381 October 2020King's Bench
68 Dame Mary Stacey 15 May 20361 October 2020King's Bench
69 Sir Neil Calver 4 September 20381 October 2020King's Bench
70 Sir Charles Bourne 4 July 20391 October 2020King's Bench
71 Dame Rowena Collins Rice 24 April 20351 October 2020King's Bench
72 Sir Nigel Poole 10 November 20401 October 2020Family
73 Sir Robert Peel 29 January 20411 October 2020FamilyNational Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court
74 Sir Adam Johnson 4 October 20401 October 2020Chancery
75 Dame Kelyn Bacon 29 October 20481 October 2020ChanceryPresident of the Tax and Chancery Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
76 Sir Michael Green 23 October 20392 November 2020Chancery
77 Dame Naomi Ellenbogen 20 March 20452 November 2020King's Bench
78 Dame Emma Arbuthnot 9 January 20341 February 2021Family
79 Sir James Mellor 16 May 20368 February 2021Chancery
80 Dame Joanna Smith 27 April 204315 February 2021Chancery
81 Sir Edwin Johnson 11 May 20381 October 2021Chancery
82 Sir Andrew Ritchie 4 May 20351 October 2021King's Bench
83 Sir Barry Cotter 30 July 20381 October 2021King's Bench
84 Dame Heather Williams 20381 October 2021King's Bench
85 Sir Stephen Eyre 17 October 20321 October 2021King's Bench
86 Sir Thomas Leech 16 February 20391 November 2021Chancery
87 Sir Joel Bennathan 15 July 203611 January 2022King's Bench
88 Dame Henrietta Hill 30 September 204811 January 2022King's Bench
89 Sir Derek Sweeting 203511 January 2022King's Bench
90 Dame Sarah Morgan 17 September 203911 January 2022Family
91 Sir Robert Bright 22 August 203911 January 2023King's Bench
92 Sir Jonathan Richards 11 January 2023Chancery
93 Sir Richard Smith 204520 February 2023Chancery
94 Sir Adam Constable 26 January 204813 March 2023King's Bench
95 Dame Julia Dias 31 January 203420 March 2023King's Bench
96 Sir Eason Rajah 18 January 204218 April 2023Chancery
97 Dame Ruth Henke 29 September 2023Family
98 Sir Nicholas Cusworth 20 March 203911 January 2024Family
99 Sir Clive Sheldon 13 October 20411 February 2024King's Bench
100 Sir Timothy Mould 22 May 20351 February 2024King's BenchPlanning Liaison Judge
101 Dame Sonia Harris 12 September 204930 September 2024Family
102 Sir Damian Garrido 7 June 204430 September 2024Family
103 Sir Dexter Dias 1 October 2024King's Bench
104 Sir Nicholas Thompsell 1 October 2024Chancery
105 Sir Stephen Trowell 5 October 20422 October 2024Family
106 Sir Richard Harrison 13 November 20432 December 2024Family
107Sir John McKendrick31 August 205110 March 2025Family

Former judges

Common Pleas Division (1875–81)

The Common Pleas Division was one of the original divisions of the High Court. It was created in 1875 through the merger of the Court of Common Pleas into the High Court. The five existing Justices of the Common Pleas were transferred to the new Common Pleas Division, and retained their previous titles until they left office. The Common Pleas Division was merged into the King's Bench Division in 1881, and all of its remaining Justices were transferred to the latter.

The head of the Division was the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas; the post was abolished along with the Common Pleas Division in 1881, and its powers vested in the Lord Chief Justice.

NameKnown asDivisionIn succession toTerm beganTerm endedReasonNotes
Sir William Baliol Brett Mr Justice BrettCommon PleasNone (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas)1 November 187524 October 1876Appointed Lord Justice of AppealMP for Helston 1866–68; Solicitor General 1868; Lord Justice of Appeal 1876–83; PC 1876; Master of the Rolls 1883–97; created Baron Esher in 1885; created Viscount Esher in 1897
Sir William Robert Grove Mr Justice GroveCommon PleasNone (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas)1 November 187526 February 1881Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench DivisionJustice of the Court of Common Pleas 1871–75; PC 1887
King's BenchNone (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 18812 September 1887Resignation
Hon George Denman Mr Justice DenmanCommon PleasNone (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas)1 November 187526 February 1881Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench DivisionMP for Tiverton 1859–65 and 1866–72; Justice of the Common Pleas 1872–75; refused knighthood upon appointment; PC 1893

[XXXFamilyXXX]

King's BenchNone (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 188117 October 1892Resignation
Sir Thomas Dickson Archibald Mr Justice ArchibaldCommon PleasNone (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas)1 November 187518 October 1876Death Junior Counsel to the Treasury 1868–72; Justice of the King's Bench 1872–75; Justice of the Common Pleas 1875
Sir Nathaniel Lindley Mr Justice LindleyCommon PleasNone (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas)1 November 187526 February 1881Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench DivisionJustice of the Common Pleas 1875; Lord Justice of Appeal 1881–97; PC 1881; Master of the Rolls 1897–1900; Lord of Appeal in Ordinary 1900–05; created Baron Lindley in 1900
King's BenchNone (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 18811 November 1881Appointed Lord Justice of Appeal
Sir Henry Charles Lopes Mr Justice LopesCommon Pleas Mr Justice Archibald 7 November 187626 February 1881Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench DivisionMP for Launceston 1868–74; MP for Frome 1874–76; Lord Justice of Appeal 1885–97; PC 1885; created Baron Ludlow in 1897
King's BenchNone (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 18811 December 1885Appointed Lord Justice of Appeal

Exchequer Division (1875–81)

The Exchequer Division was one of the original divisions of the High Court. It was created in 1875 through the merger of the Court of Exchequer into the High Court. The six existing Barons of the Exchequer were transferred to the new Exchequer Division, and retained their previous titles until they left office. Sir Henry Hawkins, the first judge to be directly appointed to the Exchequer Division, tried in vain to obtain the title of Baron, but was styled a Judge of the High Court instead. The Exchequer Division was merged into the King's Bench Division in 1881, and all of its remaining Justices were transferred to the latter.

The head of the Division was the Chief Baron of the Exchequer; the post was abolished along with the Exchequer Division in 1881, and its powers vested in the Lord Chief Justice.

NameKnown asDivisionIn succession toTerm beganTerm endedReasonNotes
Sir George William Wilshere Bramwell Mr Baron BramwellExchequerNone (transferred from the Court of Exchequer)1 November 187523 October 1876Appointed Lord Justice of AppealBaron of the Exchequer 1856–76; Lord Justice of Appeal 1876–81; PC 1876; created Baron Bramwell in 1882
Sir Anthony Cleasby Mr Baron CleasbyExchequerNone (transferred from the Court of Exchequer)1 November 18759 January 1879ResignationBaron of the Exchequer 1868–79
Sir Charles Edward Pollock Mr Baron PollockExchequerNone (transferred from the Court of Exchequer)1 November 187526 February 1881Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench DivisionBaron of the Exchequer 1873–97 (last Baron of the Exchequer)

[Family]

King's BenchNone (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 188121 November 1897Death
Sir Richard Paul Amphlett Mr Baron AmphlettExchequerNone (transferred from the Court of Exchequer)1 November 187525 October 1876Appointed Lord Justice of AppealMP for East Worcestershire 1868–74; Baron of the Exchequer 1874–76; Lord Justice of Appeal 1876–77; PC 1876
Sir John Walter Huddleston Mr Baron HuddlestonExchequerNone (transferred from the Court of Exchequer)1 November 187526 February 1881Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division Judge Advocate of the Fleet 1865–75; MP for Canterbury 1865–68; MP for Norwich 1874–75; Justice of the Common Pleas 1875; Baron of the Exchequer 1875–90
King's BenchNone (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 18815 December 1890Death
Sir Henry Hawkins Mr Justice Hawkins?King's Bench?2 November 187614 November 1876Transferred to the Exchequer DivisionCreated Baron Brampton in 1899; PC 1899
Exchequer?14 November 187626 February 1881Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division
King's BenchNone (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 18814 January 1899Resignation
Sir James Fitzjames Stephen Mr Justice StephenExchequer Mr Baron Cleasby 15 January 187926 February 1881Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench DivisionLegal member of the Imperial Legislative Council 1869–72; KCSI 1877; created a baronet in 1891
King's BenchNone (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division)26 February 18816 April 1891Resignation

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Senior Courts Act 1981 specifies 80, [1] but that has been amended (without changing the act's text) by The Maximum number of Judges Order 2003 [3] to 108. High Court judges sitting on the European Court of Human Rights do not count against the total under the Human Rights Act 1998, [4] and judges sitting on other courts are excluded by virtue of the Access to Justice Act 1999. [5] Recently, this has applied to Nicolas Bratza in respect of the ECHR and Sir Adrian Fulford, who was serving on the International Criminal Court; at the time there were, therefore, 110 judges. [6] [7] [8] Such seconded judges do not receive a salary as a judge of High Court. [4] [5]

References

  1. 1 2 Senior Courts Act 1981, s 4(1).
  2. ↑ "Coral Reef decision". uk.practicallaw.com. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. ↑ 2003/775 art 2.
  4. 1 2 s 18(4).
  5. 1 2 s 68(3).
  6. ↑ "Going to Court: High Court". Judiciary of England and Wales. Retrieved 11 October 2012. (explaining there are 73 QBD, 18 CD, and 19 FD judges, which totals 110)
  7. ↑ Whitehead, Tom (28 April 2009). "Quotas could be introduced for judges to increase ethnic minorities and women". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "England and Wales—Women Judges in 2000 and 2011" (PDF). Equal Justice Initiative. April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Notice of knighthood of Sir Jeremy Johnson, the gazette.co.uk. Accessed 28 July 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.