List of High Court judges of England and Wales

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]

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

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 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 they retire at 75.

List of current judges
JudgeMandatory retirementDate of appointmentDivisionRole
1Sir Peter Roth19 December 20271 October 2009Chancery
2Sir Nicholas Mostyn13 July 203220 April 2010Family
3Dame Lucy Theis6 November 203515 November 2010Family
4Sir Robert Hildyard10 October 20273 October 2011Chancery
5Dame Beverley Lang13 October 20303 October 2011King's Bench
6Sir Philip Moor15 July 20343 October 2011Family
7Sir Stephen Cobb12 April 203711 January 2013Family
8Sir Mark Turner27 August 203428 January 2013King's Bench
9Sir Jeremy Baker9 February 203325 March 2013King's Bench
10Sir Joseph Keehan31 March 203513 May 2013Family
11Sir Robert Jay20 September 20344 June 2013King's Bench
12Sir Anthony Hayden24 June 203631 July 2013Family
13Dame Alison Russell17 June 203313 January 2014Family
14Dame Jennifer Roberts3 March 20283 June 2014Family
15Sir James Goss12 May 20281 October 2014King's Bench
16Dame Maura McGowan27 January 20321 October 2014King's Bench
17Sir Robin Knowles7 April 20351 October 2014King's Bench
18Sir Ian Dove31 December 20381 October 2014King's Bench
19Sir David Holgate3 August 20311 December 2014King's BenchPlanning Liaison Judge
20Sir Alistair MacDonald22 February 20453 June 2015Family
21Sir Timothy Kerr15 February 20334 June 2015King's Bench
22Sir Simon Picken23 April 20418 June 2015King's Bench
23Sir Peter Fraser6 September 20381 October 2015King's Bench
24Sir Neil Garnham11 February 20345 November 2015King's Bench
25Dame Parmjit-Kaur (Bobbie) Cheema-Grubb6 October 204125 November 2015King's Bench
26Sir Michael Soole8 July 202926 November 2015King's BenchJudge in Charge King's Bench civil list
27Dame Juliet May21 March 20363 December 2015King's Bench
28Sir Stephen Morris18 May 20323 October 2016King's Bench
29Sir (Peter) Nicholas Francis22 April 20333 October 2016Family
30Dame Nerys Jefford25 December 20373 October 2016King's Bench
31Sir Nicholas Lavender7 August 20393 October 2016King's Bench
32Dame Finola O'Farrell15 December 203517 October 2016King's BenchJudge in Charge Technology and Construction Court
33Sir Andrew Baker21 December 20401 November 2016King's BenchJudge in Charge of the Admiralty Court
34Sir Marcus Smith1 July 204212 January 2017ChanceryPresident of the Competition Appeal Tribunal
35Dame Gwynneth Knowles11 July 20372 October 2017Family
36Sir Julian Goose26 July 20362 October 2017King's Bench
37Sir Peter Richard Lane26 April 20282 October 2017King's BenchPresident of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
38Sir Simon Bryan23 November 20402 October 2017King's Bench
39Sir Martin Spencer19 June 20312 October 2017King's Bench
40Sir David Williams18 June 20392 October 2017Family
41Sir Julian Knowles26 January 20442 October 2017King's Bench
42Dame Amanda Yip23 April 20442 October 2017King's Bench
43Sir Matthew Nicklin16 October 20452 October 2017King's BenchJudge in charge of the Media and Communications list
44Sir Akhlaq Choudhury23 April 20422 October 2017King's Bench
45Dame Sara Cockerill7 November 20431 November 2017King's Bench
46Sir Antony Zacaroli10 May 203313 November 2017Chancery
47Dame Christina Lambert15 August 203911 January 2018King's Bench
48Sir Timothy Fancourt30 August 203911 January 2018ChanceryPresident of the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
49Sir Christopher Butcher14 August 20325 March 2018King's Bench
50Sir Richard Jacobs21 December 203125 June 2018King's Bench
51Sir David Waksman28 August 20321 October 2018King's Bench
52Dame Johanna Cutts12 January 20391 October 2018King's Bench
53Sir Jonathan Swift11 September 20391 October 2018King's BenchJudge in charge of the Administrative Court
54Sir Edward Pepperall26 December 20411 October 2018King's Bench
55Sir Edward Murray3 May 20331 October 2018King's Bench
56Dame Judith Farbey21 October 20401 October 2018King's BenchPresident of the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
57Sir Clive Freedman16 November 203022 October 2018King's Bench
58Dame Nathalie Lieven20 May 203911 January 2019Family
59Dame Justine Thornton16 September 204525 February 2019King's Bench
60Dame Frances Judd13 February 20363 September 2019Family
61Dame Jennifer Eady31 May 20401 October 2019King's BenchPresident of Employment Appeal Tribunal
62Sir John Cavanagh17 June 20351 October 2019King's Bench
63Dame Alison Foster22 January 20321 October 2019King's Bench
64Sir William Trower28 December 20341 October 2019Chancery
65Sir Martin Griffiths27 April 20371 October 2019King's Bench
66Sir Pushpinder Saini26 February 20431 October 2019King's Bench
67Sir Jeremy JohnsonMay 20461 October 2019King's Bench[9]
68Sir Martin Chamberlain25 November 20481 October 2019King's Bench
69Dame Karen Steyn20 October 20451 October 2019King's Bench
70Sir Nicholas Hilliard1 May 203418 November 2019King's Bench
71Sir Andrew Henshaw22 April 20372 December 2019King's Bench
72Dame Amanda Tipples18 December 20412 December 2019King's Bench
73 Sir Michael Fordham 21 December 2039 13 January 2020 King's Bench
74 Sir David Foxton 14 October 2040 13 January 2020 King's Bench Judge in Charge Commercial Court
75 Sir Thomas Linden 26 November 2039 13 January 2020 King's Bench
76 Sir Robert Miles 29 November 2037 21 April 2020 Chancery
77 Sir Richard Meade 14 November 2041 7 September 2020 Chancery Judge in Charge Intellectual Property
78 Sir Mark Wall 4 March 2038 1 October 2020 King's Bench
79 Dame Mary Stacey 15 May 2036 1 October 2020 King's Bench
80 Sir Neil Calver 4 September 2038 1 October 2020 King's Bench
81 Sir Charles Bourne 4 July 2039 1 October 2020 King's Bench
82 Dame Rowena Collins Rice 24 April 2035 1 October 2020 King's Bench
83 Sir Nigel Poole 10 November 2040 1 October 2020 Family
84 Sir Robert Peel 29 January 2041 1 October 2020 Family
85 Sir Adam Johnson 4 October 2040 1 October 2020 Chancery
86 Dame Kelyn Bacon 29 October 2048 1 October 2020 Chancery President of the Tax and Chancery Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
87 Sir Michael Green 23 October 2039 2 November 2020 Chancery
88 Dame Naomi Ellenbogen 20 March 2045 2 November 2020 King's Bench
89 Dame Emma Arbuthnot 9 January 2034 1 February 2021 Family
90 Sir Edward James Mellor 16 May 2036 8 February 2021 Chancery
91 Dame Joanna Smith 27 April 2043 15 February 2021 Chancery
92 Sir Edwin Johnson 11 May 2038 1 October 2021 Chancery
93 Sir Andrew Ritchie 4 May 2035 1 October 2021 King's Bench
94 Sir Barry Cotter 30 July 2038 1 October 2021 King's Bench
95 Dame Heather Williams 2038 1 October 2021 King's Bench
96 Sir Stephen Eyre 17 October 2032 1 October 2021 King's Bench
97 Sir Thomas Leech 16 February 2039 1 November 2021 Chancery
98 Sir Joel Bennathan 15 July 2036 11 January 2022 King's Bench
99 Dame Henrietta Hill 30 September 2048 11 January 2022 King's Bench
100 Sir Derek Sweeting 2035 11 January 2022 King's Bench
101 Dame Sarah Morgan 17 September 2039 11 January 2022 Family
102 Sir Robert Bright 22 August 2039 11 January 2023 King's Bench
103 Sir Jonathan Richards 11 January 2023 Chancery
104 Sir Richard Smith 2045 20 February 2023 Chancery
105 Sir Adam Constable 26 January 2048 13 March 2023 King's Bench
106 Dame Julia Dias 31 January 2034 20 March 2023 King's Bench
107 Sir Eason Rajah 18 January 2042 18 April 2023 Chancery
108 Dame Ruth Henke 29 September 2023 Family

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.

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

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.

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

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. Senior Courts Act 1981, s 4(1).
  2. "Coral Reef decision". uk.practicallaw.com. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. 2003/775 art 2.
  4. s 18(4).
  5. 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 article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.