List of High Court judges of England and Wales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]

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 Dames Commander 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

More information Judge, Mandatory retirement ...
JudgeMandatory retirementDate of appointmentDivisionRole
1Dame Lucy Theis6 November 203515 November 2010Family
2Sir Robert Hildyard10 October 20273 October 2011Chancery
3Dame Beverley Lang13 October 20303 October 2011King's Bench
4Sir Mark Turner27 August 203428 January 2013King's Bench
5Sir Joseph Keehan31 March 203513 May 2013Family
6Sir Robert Jay20 September 20344 June 2013King's Bench
7Sir Anthony Hayden24 June 203631 July 2013Family
8Dame Maura McGowan27 January 20321 October 2014King's Bench
9Sir Robin Knowles7 April 20351 October 2014King's Bench
10Sir Alistair MacDonald22 February 20453 June 2015Family
11Sir Simon Picken23 April 20418 June 2015King's Bench
12Sir Neil Garnham11 February 20345 November 2015King's Bench
13Dame Parmjit-Kaur (Bobbie) Cheema-Grubb6 October 204125 November 2015King's Bench
14Sir Michael Soole8 July 202926 November 2015King's Bench
15Sir Stephen Morris18 May 20323 October 2016King's Bench
16Dame Nerys Jefford25 December 20373 October 2016King's Bench
17Sir Nicholas Lavender7 August 20393 October 2016King's Bench
18Dame Finola O'Farrell15 December 203517 October 2016King's Bench
19Sir Andrew Baker21 December 20401 November 2016King's BenchJudge in Charge of the Admiralty Court
20Sir Marcus Smith1 July 204212 January 2017Chancery
21Dame Gwynneth Knowles11 July 20372 October 2017Family
22Sir Julian Goose26 July 20362 October 2017King's Bench
23Sir Simon Bryan23 November 20402 October 2017King's Bench
24Sir Martin Spencer19 June 20312 October 2017King's Bench
25Sir David Williams18 June 20392 October 2017Family
26Sir Julian Knowles26 January 20442 October 2017King's Bench
27Sir Matthew Nicklin16 October 20452 October 2017King's Bench
28Sir Akhlaq Choudhury23 April 20422 October 2017King's Bench
29Dame Christina Lambert15 August 203911 January 2018King's BenchJudge in Charge King's Bench civil list
30Sir Timothy Fancourt30 August 203911 January 2018Chancery
31Sir Christopher Butcher14 August 20375 March 2018King's Bench
32Sir Richard Jacobs21 December 203125 June 2018King's Bench
33Sir David Waksman28 August 20321 October 2018King's BenchJudge in Charge Technology and Construction Court
34Dame Johanna Cutts12 January 20391 October 2018King's Bench
35Sir Jonathan Swift11 September 20391 October 2018King's Bench
36Sir Edward Pepperall26 December 20411 October 2018King's Bench
37Sir Edward Murray3 May 20331 October 2018King's Bench
38Dame Judith Farbey21 October 20401 October 2018King's Bench
39Dame Nathalie Lieven20 May 203911 January 2019Family
40Dame Justine Thornton16 September 204525 February 2019King's Bench
41Dame Frances Judd13 February 20363 September 2019Family
42Dame Jennifer Eady31 May 20401 October 2019King's Bench
43Sir John Cavanagh17 June 20351 October 2019King's Bench
44Dame Alison Foster22 January 20321 October 2019King's Bench
45Sir William Trower28 December 20341 October 2019Chancery
46Sir Martin Griffiths27 April 20371 October 2019King's Bench
47Sir Pushpinder Saini26 February 20431 October 2019King's Bench
48Sir Jeremy JohnsonMay 20461 October 2019King's Bench[9]
49Sir Martin Chamberlain25 November 20481 October 2019King's BenchJudge in charge of the Administrative Court
50Dame Karen Steyn20 October 20451 October 2019King's BenchJudge in charge of the Media and Communications list
51Sir Nicholas Hilliard1 May 203418 November 2019King's Bench
52Sir Andrew Henshaw22 April 20372 December 2019King's BenchJudge in Charge Commercial Court
53Dame Amanda Tipples18 December 20412 December 2019King's Bench
54Sir Michael Fordham21 December 203913 January 2020King's Bench
55Sir Thomas Linden26 November 203913 January 2020King's Bench
56Sir Richard Meade14 November 20417 September 2020ChanceryJudge in Charge Intellectual Property
57Sir Mark Wall4 March 20381 October 2020King's Bench
58Dame Mary Stacey15 May 20361 October 2020King's Bench
59Sir Neil Calver4 September 20381 October 2020King's Bench
60Sir Charles Bourne4 July 20391 October 2020King's Bench
61Dame Rowena Collins Rice24 April 20351 October 2020King's Bench
62Sir Nigel Poole10 November 20401 October 2020Family
63Sir Robert Peel29 January 20411 October 2020FamilyNational Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court
64Sir Adam Johnson4 October 20401 October 2020Chancery
65Dame Kelyn Bacon29 October 20481 October 2020Chancery
66Sir Michael Green23 October 20392 November 2020Chancery
67Dame Naomi Ellenbogen20 March 20452 November 2020King's Bench
68Dame Emma Arbuthnot9 January 20341 February 2021Family
69Sir James Mellor16 May 20368 February 2021Chancery
70Dame Joanna Smith27 April 204315 February 2021Chancery
71Sir Edwin Johnson11 May 20381 October 2021ChanceryPresident of the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
72Sir Andrew Ritchie4 May 20351 October 2021King's Bench
73Sir Barry Cotter30 July 20381 October 2021King's Bench
74Dame Heather Williams20381 October 2021King's BenchlPresident of the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
75Sir Stephen Eyre17 October 20321 October 2021 King's Bench
76Sir Thomas Leech16 February 20391 November 2021ChanceryVice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster
77Sir Joel Bennathan15 July 203611 January 2022King's Bench
78Dame Henrietta Hill30 September 204811 January 2022King's Bench
79Sir Derek Sweeting203511 January 2022King's Bench
80Dame Sarah Morgan17 September 203911 January 2022Family
81Sir Robert Bright22 August 203911 January 2023King's Bench
82Sir Jonathan Richards11 January 2023Chancery
83Sir Richard Smith204520 February 2023Chancery
84Sir Adam Constable26 January 204813 March 2023King's Bench
85Dame Julia Dias31 January 203420 March 2023King's Bench
86Sir Eason Rajah18 January 204218 April 2023Chancery
87Dame Ruth Henke29 September 2023Family
88Sir Nicholas Cusworth20 March 203911 January 2024Family
89Sir Clive Sheldon13 October 20411 February 2024King's Bench
90Sir Timothy Mould22 May 20351 February 2024King's BenchPlanning Liaison Judge
91Dame Sonia Harris12 September 204930 September 2024Family
92Sir Damian Garrido7 June 204430 September 2024Family
93Sir Dexter Dias1 October 2024King's Bench
94Sir Nicholas ThompsellSeptember 20341 October 2024ChanceryPresident of the Tax and Chancery Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
95Sir Stephen Trowell5 October 20422 October 2024Family
96Sir Richard Harrison13 November 20432 December 2024Family
97Sir John McKendrick31 March 205110 March 2025Family
98Sir Mark Cawson4 June 20341 October 2025Chancery
99 Dame Margaret Obi September 2043 3 October 2025 King's Bench
100Sir Simon Birt5 March 20503 October 2025King's Bench
101Dame Heather Norton24 November 20416 October 2025King's Bench
102 Sir Gavin Mansfield February 2044 3 November 2025 King's Bench
103 Sir Richard Kimblin 10 December 2041 12 November 2025 King's Bench
104 Dame Catherine [Kate] Brunner 5 August 2047 17 November 2025 King's Bench
105 Sir Jason Coppel 12 January 2026 King's Bench
106 Sir Neil Moody 1 August 2040 29 January 2026 King's Bench
Close

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.

More information Name, Known as ...
Name Known as Division In succession to Term began Term ended Reason Notes
Sir William Baliol Brett Mr Justice Brett Common Pleas None (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas) 1 November 1875 24 October 1876 Appointed Lord Justice of Appeal MP 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 Grove Common Pleas None (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas) 1 November 1875 26 February 1881 Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division Justice of the Court of Common Pleas 1871–75; PC 1887
King's Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 2 September 1887 Resignation
Hon George Denman Mr Justice Denman Common Pleas None (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas) 1 November 1875 26 February 1881 Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division MP for Tiverton 1859–65 and 1866–72; Justice of the Common Pleas 1872–75; refused knighthood upon appointment; PC 1893

[XXXFamilyXXX]

King's Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 17 October 1892 Resignation
Sir Thomas Dickson Archibald Mr Justice Archibald Common Pleas None (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas) 1 November 1875 18 October 1876 Death 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 Lindley Common Pleas None (transferred from the Court of Common Pleas) 1 November 1875 26 February 1881 Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division Justice 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 Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 1 November 1881 Appointed Lord Justice of Appeal
Sir Henry Charles Lopes Mr Justice Lopes Common Pleas Mr Justice Archibald 7 November 1876 26 February 1881 Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division MP for Launceston 1868–74; MP for Frome 1874–76; Lord Justice of Appeal 1885–97; PC 1885; created Baron Ludlow in 1897
King's Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 1 December 1885 Appointed Lord Justice of Appeal
Close

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.

More information Name, Known as ...
Name Known as Division In succession to Term began Term ended Reason Notes
Sir George William Wilshere Bramwell Mr Baron Bramwell Exchequer None (transferred from the Court of Exchequer) 1 November 1875 23 October 1876 Appointed Lord Justice of Appeal Baron of the Exchequer 1856–76; Lord Justice of Appeal 1876–81; PC 1876; created Baron Bramwell in 1882
Sir Anthony Cleasby Mr Baron Cleasby Exchequer None (transferred from the Court of Exchequer) 1 November 1875 9 January 1879 Resignation Baron of the Exchequer 1868–79
Sir Charles Edward Pollock Mr Baron Pollock Exchequer None (transferred from the Court of Exchequer) 1 November 1875 26 February 1881 Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division Baron of the Exchequer 1873–97 (last Baron of the Exchequer)

[Family]

King's Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 21 November 1897 Death
Sir Richard Paul Amphlett Mr Baron Amphlett Exchequer None (transferred from the Court of Exchequer) 1 November 1875 25 October 1876 Appointed Lord Justice of Appeal MP 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 Huddleston Exchequer None (transferred from the Court of Exchequer) 1 November 1875 26 February 1881 Exchequer 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 Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 5 December 1890 Death
Sir Henry Hawkins Mr Justice Hawkins? King's Bench ? 2 November 1876 14 November 1876 Transferred to the Exchequer Division Created Baron Brampton in 1899; PC 1899
Exchequer ? 14 November 1876 26 February 1881 Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division
King's Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 4 January 1899 Resignation
Sir James Fitzjames Stephen Mr Justice Stephen Exchequer Mr Baron Cleasby 15 January 1879 26 February 1881 Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division Legal member of the Imperial Legislative Council 1869–72; KCSI 1877; created a baronet in 1891
King's Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the King's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 6 April 1891 Resignation
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [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

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI