The Honourable
Mr Justice Sweeting
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
Justice of the High Court
Assumed office
11 January 2022
Appointed byElizabeth II
Personal details
BornUnited Kingdom
Alma materClare College, Cambridge
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Sir Derek Anthony Sweeting is a British High Court judge.[1]

Early life

Sweeting grew up in Greater London, attending a state school and later studying law at Clare College, Cambridge.[2][1]

Before undertaking his Law degree, he served in the British Army for 1 year. He trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst was deployed to West Germany as a Tank Commander. Upon completion of his studies in Cambridge, he enlisted as a Reservist in the Special Air Service (SAS).[2]

Career

Sweeting was called to the Bar in 1983 by Middle Temple[3] and was appointed King's Counsel in 2001.[4]

Before becoming a High Court judge, he practiced at the Barristers' chambers ‘7BR’.[5]

Bar Council

He was appointed as Chair of the Bar council in 2021 until 2022.[6]

In April 2021, Sweeting questioned whether the term 'BAME' (Black, Asian, and Minority ethnic) could "disguise the fact that there's massive under-representation of black members of our community at the bar".[7]

Judicial career

Sweeting was appointed as a Recorder in the Crown Court and County Court on 15 March 2002.[8]

On 11 January 2022, Sweeting was appointed as a High Court Judge. He was assigned to the King's Bench Division by the Lord Chief Justice.[3] He received his customary Knighthood in July 2023, at Windsor Castle.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b "High Court Judges 2021". Judicial Appointments Commission. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b Popal, Rehana (13 December 2020). "Derek Sweeting QC: Chair of the Bar 2021". Counsel Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "High Court Appointment – Sweeting QC". Judiciary UK. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Crown Office | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  5. ^ 7BR (22 December 2021). "Derek Sweeting QC has been appointed to the High Court Bench". 7BR Barristers Chambers. Retrieved 17 January 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Officers of the Bar Council". Bar Council. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ^ Slingo, Jemma (4 April 2021). "Bar council chair criticises 'BAME' label". The Law Society Gazette. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Crown Office | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  9. ^ "CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD | Honours and Awards | The Gazette". London Gazette. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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