Judith Parker

Judith Parker was born on 19 June 1950.^[1] She studied Jurisprudence at Somerville College, Oxford,^[2] and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972.^[3]

Parker is an Honorary Fellow of Somerville College.^[4]

In 1973, Parker was called to the Bar by Middle Temple.^[3] She then specialised in family law.^[2] On 9 April 1991, she was appointed Queen's Counsel (QC).^[5]

Between 1998 and 2000, Parker served as an assistant recorder (i.e. a part-time judge).^[2] On 7 March 2000, she was appointed a Master of the Bench of Middle Temple.^[6] On 18 July 2000, she was appointed a Recorder, and served as a part-time judge on the South Eastern Circuit.^[7]

On 13 June 2008, Parker was appointed a Judge assigned to the Family Division of the High Court of Justice.^[8] She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) shortly after being appointed.^[3] In 2018, during an unknown hearing, she dozed off momentarily, for which she was given official advice.^[9] She retired shortly after.