List of High Court judges of England and Wales

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is part of the series: Courts of England and Wales
Law of England and Wales
Administration
Civil and family courts
Criminal courts
Criminal prosecution
Legal profession
  • v
  • t

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 (Queen'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 Justice X'.

The number of Justices of the High Court is limited to 108,[n 1] and the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 mandates that they, along with other senior judges throughout the UK retire at 70 years of age. Judges appointed before 31 March 1995 are excepted and may wait to retire at 75. As of 2020 the last such Judge remaining in the High Court is Mr Justice Holman. In the Supreme Court, Lady Arden can similarly stay in post until she is 75.

List of current judges[]

As at 15 February 2021, there are 105 Justices of the High Court (16 Chancery Division, 20 Family Division, and 69 Queen's Bench Division judges), 74 male and 31 female.[citation needed]

Judge Mandatory retirement Date of appointment Division Role
1 Sir James Holman 21 August 2022[n 2] 18 March 1995 Family
2 Sir Anthony Mann 21 May 2021 19 January 2004 Chancery
3 Sir Paul Morgan 17 August 2022 19 April 2007 Chancery
4 Sir Nigel Sweeney 18 March 2024 1 October 2008 Queen's Bench
5 Sir Andrew Nicol 9 May 2021 4 February 2009 Queen's Bench
6 Sir Peter Roth 19 December 2022 1 October 2009 Chancery President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal
7 Sir Nicholas Mostyn 13 July 2027 20 April 2010 Family
8 Sir Robin Spencer 8 July 2025 14 July 2010 Queen's Bench
9 Dame Lucy Theis 6 November 2030 15 November 2010 Family
10 Sir Robert Hildyard 10 October 2022 3 October 2011 Chancery
11 Dame Beverley Lang 13 October 2025 3 October 2011 Queen's Bench
12 Sir Philip Moor 15 July 2029 3 October 2011 Family
13 Sir Stephen Cobb 12 April 2032 11 January 2013 Family
14 Sir Mark Turner 27 August 2029 28 January 2013 Queen's Bench
15 Sir Jeremy Baker 9 February 2028 25 March 2013 Queen's Bench
16 Sir Stephen Stewart 9 October 2023 7 May 2013 Queen's Bench Judge in charge of the Queen’s Bench Civil List
17 Sir Joseph Keehan 31 March 2030 13 May 2013 Family
18 Sir Robert Jay 20 September 2029 4 June 2013 Queen's Bench
19 Sir Anthony Hayden 24 June 2031 31 July 2013 Family
20 Dame Alison Russell 17 June 2028 13 January 2014 Family
21 Sir William Davis 20 June 2024 1 May 2014 Queen's Bench
22 Sir Roderick Newton 15 April 2028 5 May 2014 Family
23 Dame Jennifer Roberts 3 March 2023 3 June 2014 Family
24 Sir James Goss 12 May 2023 1 October 2014 Queen's Bench
25 Dame Maura McGowan 27 January 2027 1 October 2014 Queen's Bench
26 Sir Robin Knowles 7 April 2030 1 October 2014 Queen's Bench
27 Sir Ian Dove 31 December 2033 1 October 2014 Queen's Bench
28 Sir David Holgate 3 August 2026 1 December 2014 Queen's Bench Planning Liaison Judge
29 Sir Richard Snowden 22 March 2032 30 April 2015 Chancery
30 Sir Alistair MacDonald 22 February 2040 3 June 2015 Family
31 Sir Timothy Kerr 15 February 2028 4 June 2015 Queen's Bench
32 23 April 2036 8 June 2015 Queen's Bench
33 Dame Philippa Whipple 7 May 2036 1 October 2015 Queen's Bench
34 Sir Peter Fraser 6 September 2033 1 October 2015 Queen's Bench Judge in Charge of the Technology and Construction Court
35 11 February 2029 5 November 2015 Queen's Bench
36 Dame Parmjit-Kaur (Bobbie) Cheema-Grubb 6 October 2036 25 November 2015 Queen's Bench
37 8 July 2024 26 November 2015 Queen's Bench
38 Dame Juliet May 21 March 2031 3 December 2015 Queen's Bench
39 18 May 2027 3 October 2016 Queen's Bench
40 Sir (Peter) Nicholas Francis 22 April 2028 3 October 2016 Family
41 Dame Nerys Jefford 25 December 2032 3 October 2016 Queen's Bench
42 7 August 2034 3 October 2016 Queen's Bench
43 Dame Finola O'Farrell 15 December 2030 17 October 2016 Queen's Bench
44 Sir Andrew Baker 21 December 2035 1 November 2016 Queen's Bench
45 1 July 2037 12 January 2017 Chancery
46 11 July 2032 2 October 2017 Family
47 Sir Jonathan Cohen 8 May 2021 2 October 2017 Family
48 26 July 2031 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench
49 26 April 2023 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench President of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
50 23 November 2035 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench
51 17 January 2030 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench
52 19 June 2026 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench
53 18 June 2031 2 October 2017 Family
54 26 January 2039 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench
55 Dame Amanda Yip 23 April 2039 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench
56 16 October 2040 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench
57 Sir Akhlaq Choudhury 23 April 2037 2 October 2017 Queen's Bench President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal
58 7 November 2038 1 November 2017 Queen's Bench
59 10 May 2033 13 November 2017 Chancery President of the Tax and Chancery Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
60 15 August 2033 11 January 2018 Queen's Bench
61 30 August 2034 11 January 2018 Chancery President of the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
62 14 August 2032 5 March 2018 Queen's Bench
63 21 December 2026 25 June 2018 Queen's Bench
64 28 August 2027 1 October 2018 Queen's Bench
65 12 January 2034 1 October 2018 Queen's Bench
66 Dame Sarah Falk 31 May 2032 1 October 2018 Chancery
67 11 September 2034 1 October 2018 Queen's Bench
68 26 December 2036 1 October 2018 Queen's Bench
69 3 May 2028 1 October 2018 Queen's Bench
70 21 October 2035 1 October 2018 Queen's Bench President of the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
71 Sir Clive Freedman 16 November 2025 22 October 2018 Queen's Bench
72 Dame Nathalie Lieven 20 May 2034 11 January 2019 Family
73 Dame Justine Thornton 16 September 2040 25 February 2019 Queen's Bench
74 13 February 2031 3 September 2019 Family
75 31 May 2035 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
76 17 June 2030 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
77 22 January 2027 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
78 28 December 2029 1 October 2019 Chancery
79 27 April 2032 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
80 26 February 2038 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
81 ≈2041 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
82 25 November 2043 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
83 20 October 2040 1 October 2019 Queen's Bench
84 Sir Nicholas Hilliard 1 May 2029 18 November 2019 Queen's Bench
85 22 April 2032 2 December 2019 Queen's Bench
86 18 December 2036 2 December 2019 Queen's Bench
87 Sir Michael Fordham 21 December 2034 13 January 2020 Queen's Bench
88 14 October 2035 13 January 2020 Queen's Bench
89 26 November 2034 13 January 2020 Queen's Bench
90 Sir Robert Miles 29 November 2032 21 April 2020 Chancery
91 Sir Richard Meade 14 November 2036 7 September 2020 Chancery
92 4 March 2033 1 October 2020 Queen's Bench
93 15 May 2031 1 October 2020 Queen's Bench
94 4 September 2033 1 October 2020 Queen's Bench
95 4 July 2034 1 October 2020 Queen's Bench
96 24 April 2030 1 October 2020 Queen's Bench
97 10 November 2035 1 October 2020 Family
98 Sir Robert Peel 29 January 2036 1 October 2020 Family
99 4 October 2035 1 October 2020 Chancery
100 29 October 2043 1 October 2020 Chancery
101 23 October 2034 2 November 2020 Chancery
102 20 March 2040 2 November 2020 Queen's Bench
103 Dame Emma Arbuthnot 9 January 2029 1 February 2021 Family
104 Sir Edward Mellor 2032 8 February 2021 Chancery
105 27 April 2038 15 February 2021 Chancery

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 Queen'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.

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 Queen's Bench Division Justice of the Court of Common Pleas 1871–75; PC 1887
Queen's Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the Queen'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 Queen'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]

Queen's Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the Queen'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 Queen'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 Queen'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
Queen's Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the Queen'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 Queen'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
Queen's Bench None (Common Pleas Division merged into the Queen's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 1 December 1885 Appointed 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 Queen'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.

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 Queen's Bench Division Baron of the Exchequer 1873–97 (last Baron of the Exchequer)

[Family]

Queen's Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the Queen'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 Queen'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
Queen's Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the Queen's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 5 December 1890 Death
Sir Henry Hawkins Mr Justice Hawkins? Queen'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 Queen's Bench Division
Queen's Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the Queen'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 Queen's Bench Division Legal member of the Imperial Legislative Council 1869–72; KCSI 1877; created a baronet in 1891
Queen's Bench None (Exchequer Division merged into the Queen's Bench Division) 26 February 1881 6 April 1891 Resignation

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]
  2. ^ Mandatory retirement for Holman J is at 75, rather than 70, because he was appointed before 31 March 1995.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Senior Courts Act 1981, s 4(1).
  2. ^ "Coral Reef decision". uk.practicallaw.com. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  3. ^ 2003/775 art 2.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b s 18(4).
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b 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 2016-03-04.
Retrieved from ""