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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 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.[citation needed]

List of current judges

Judge Mandatory retirement Date of appointment Division Role
1 Sir Peter Roth 19 December 2027 1 October 2009 Chancery
2 Dame Lucy Theis 6 November 2035 15 November 2010 Family
3 Sir Robert Hildyard 10 October 2027 3 October 2011 Chancery
4 Dame Beverley Lang 13 October 2030 3 October 2011 King's Bench
5 Sir Philip Moor 15 July 2034 3 October 2011 Family
6 Sir Stephen Cobb 12 April 2037 11 January 2013 Family
7 Sir Mark Turner 27 August 2034 28 January 2013 King's Bench
8 Sir Jeremy Baker 9 February 2033 25 March 2013 King's Bench
9 Sir Joseph Keehan 31 March 2035 13 May 2013 Family
10 Sir Robert Jay 20 September 2034 4 June 2013 King's Bench
11 Sir Anthony Hayden 24 June 2036 31 July 2013 Family
12 Dame Alison Russell 17 June 2033 13 January 2014 Family
13 Dame Jennifer Roberts 3 March 2028 3 June 2014 Family
14 Sir James Goss 12 May 2028 1 October 2014 King's Bench
15 Dame Maura McGowan 27 January 2032 1 October 2014 King's Bench
16 Sir Robin Knowles 7 April 2035 1 October 2014 King's Bench
17 Sir Ian Dove 31 December 2038 1 October 2014 King's Bench
18 Sir David Holgate 3 August 2031 1 December 2014 King's Bench Planning Liaison Judge
19 Sir Alistair MacDonald 22 February 2045 3 June 2015 Family
20 Sir Timothy Kerr 15 February 2033 4 June 2015 King's Bench
21 Sir Simon Picken 23 April 2041 8 June 2015 King's Bench
22 Sir Neil Garnham 11 February 2034 5 November 2015 King's Bench
23 Dame Parmjit-Kaur (Bobbie) Cheema-Grubb 6 October 2041 25 November 2015 King's Bench
24 Sir Michael Soole 8 July 2029 26 November 2015 King's Bench Judge in Charge King's Bench civil list
25 Dame Juliet May 21 March 2036 3 December 2015 King's Bench
26 Sir Stephen Morris 18 May 2032 3 October 2016 King's Bench
27 Dame Nerys Jefford 25 December 2037 3 October 2016 King's Bench
28 Sir Nicholas Lavender 7 August 2039 3 October 2016 King's Bench
29 Dame Finola O'Farrell 15 December 2035 17 October 2016 King's Bench Judge in Charge Technology and Construction Court
30 Sir Andrew Baker 21 December 2040 1 November 2016 King's Bench Judge in Charge of the Admiralty Court
31 Sir Marcus Smith 1 July 2042 12 January 2017 Chancery President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal
32 Dame Gwynneth Knowles 11 July 2037 2 October 2017 Family
33 Sir Julian Goose 26 July 2036 2 October 2017 King's Bench
34 Sir Simon Bryan 23 November 2040 2 October 2017 King's Bench
35 Sir Martin Spencer 19 June 2031 2 October 2017 King's Bench
36 Sir David Williams 18 June 2039 2 October 2017 Family
37 Sir Julian Knowles 26 January 2044 2 October 2017 King's Bench
38 Dame Amanda Yip 23 April 2044 2 October 2017 King's Bench
39 Sir Matthew Nicklin 16 October 2045 2 October 2017 King's Bench Judge in charge of the Media and Communications list
40 Sir Akhlaq Choudhury 23 April 2042 2 October 2017 King's Bench
41 Dame Sara Cockerill 7 November 2043 1 November 2017 King's Bench
42 Sir Antony Zacaroli 10 May 2033 13 November 2017 Chancery
43 Dame Christina Lambert 15 August 2039 11 January 2018 King's Bench
44 Sir Timothy Fancourt 30 August 2039 11 January 2018 Chancery President of the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
45 Sir Christopher Butcher 14 August 2037 5 March 2018 King's Bench
46 Sir Richard Jacobs 21 December 2031 25 June 2018 King's Bench
47 Sir David Waksman 28 August 2032 1 October 2018 King's Bench
48 Dame Johanna Cutts 12 January 2039 1 October 2018 King's Bench
49 Sir Jonathan Swift 11 September 2039 1 October 2018 King's Bench Judge in charge of the Administrative Court
50 Sir Edward Pepperall 26 December 2041 1 October 2018 King's Bench
51 Sir Edward Murray 3 May 2033 1 October 2018 King's Bench
52 Dame Judith Farbey 21 October 2040 1 October 2018 King's Bench President of the Administrative Appeals Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
53 Sir Clive Freedman 16 November 2030 22 October 2018 King's Bench
54 Dame Nathalie Lieven 20 May 2039 11 January 2019 Family
55 Dame Justine Thornton 16 September 2045 25 February 2019 King's Bench
56 Dame Frances Judd 13 February 2036 3 September 2019 Family
57 Dame Jennifer Eady 31 May 2040 1 October 2019 King's Bench President of Employment Appeal Tribunal
58 Sir John Cavanagh 17 June 2035 1 October 2019 King's Bench
59 Dame Alison Foster 22 January 2032 1 October 2019 King's Bench
60 Sir William Trower 28 December 2034 1 October 2019 Chancery
61 Sir Martin Griffiths 27 April 2037 1 October 2019 King's Bench
62 Sir Pushpinder Saini 26 February 2043 1 October 2019 King's Bench
63 Sir Jeremy Johnson May 2046 1 October 2019 King's Bench[9]
64 Sir Martin Chamberlain 25 November 2048 1 October 2019 King's Bench
65 Dame Karen Steyn 20 October 2045 1 October 2019 King's Bench
66 Sir Nicholas Hilliard 1 May 2034 18 November 2019 King's Bench
67 Sir Andrew Henshaw 22 April 2037 2 December 2019 King's Bench
68 Dame Amanda Tipples 18 December 2041 2 December 2019 King's Bench
69 Sir Michael Fordham 21 December 2039 13 January 2020 King's Bench
70 Sir David Foxton 14 October 2040 13 January 2020 King's Bench Judge in Charge Commercial Court
71 Sir Thomas Linden 26 November 2039 13 January 2020 King's Bench
72 Sir Robert Miles 29 November 2037 21 April 2020 Chancery
73 Sir Richard Meade 14 November 2041 7 September 2020 Chancery Judge in Charge Intellectual Property
74 Sir Mark Wall 4 March 2038 1 October 2020 King's Bench
75 Dame Mary Stacey 15 May 2036 1 October 2020 King's Bench
76 Sir Neil Calver 4 September 2038 1 October 2020 King's Bench
77 Sir Charles Bourne 4 July 2039 1 October 2020 King's Bench
78 Dame Rowena Collins Rice 24 April 2035 1 October 2020 King's Bench
79 Sir Nigel Poole 10 November 2040 1 October 2020 Family
80 Sir Robert Peel 29 January 2041 1 October 2020 Family National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court
81 Sir Adam Johnson 4 October 2040 1 October 2020 Chancery
82 Dame Kelyn Bacon 29 October 2048 1 October 2020 Chancery President of the Tax and Chancery Chamber of the Upper Tribunal
83 Sir Michael Green 23 October 2039 2 November 2020 Chancery
84 Dame Naomi Ellenbogen 20 March 2045 2 November 2020 King's Bench
85 Dame Emma Arbuthnot 9 January 2034 1 February 2021 Family
86 Sir James Mellor 16 May 2036 8 February 2021 Chancery
87 Dame Joanna Smith 27 April 2043 15 February 2021 Chancery
88 Sir Edwin Johnson 11 May 2038 1 October 2021 Chancery
89 Sir Andrew Ritchie 4 May 2035 1 October 2021 King's Bench
90 Sir Barry Cotter 30 July 2038 1 October 2021 King's Bench
91 Dame Heather Williams 2038 1 October 2021 King's Bench
92 Sir Stephen Eyre 17 October 2032 1 October 2021 King's Bench
93 Sir Thomas Leech 16 February 2039 1 November 2021 Chancery
94 Sir Joel Bennathan 15 July 2036 11 January 2022 King's Bench
95 Dame Henrietta Hill 30 September 2048 11 January 2022 King's Bench
96 Sir Derek Sweeting 2035 11 January 2022 King's Bench
97 Dame Sarah Morgan 17 September 2039 11 January 2022 Family
98 Sir Robert Bright 22 August 2039 11 January 2023 King's Bench
99 Sir Jonathan Richards 11 January 2023 Chancery
100 Sir Richard Smith 2045 20 February 2023 Chancery
101 Sir Adam Constable 26 January 2048 13 March 2023 King's Bench
102 Dame Julia Dias 31 January 2034 20 March 2023 King's Bench
103 Sir Eason Rajah 18 January 2042 18 April 2023 Chancery
104 Dame Ruth Henke 29 September 2023 Family
105 Sir Nicholas Cusworth 20 March 2039 11 January 2024 Family
106 Sir Clive Sheldon 1 February 2024 King's Bench
107 Sir Timothy Mould 22 May 2035 1 February 2024 King's Bench

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. ^ a b Senior Courts Act 1981, s 4(1).
  2. ^ "Coral Reef decision". uk.practicallaw.com. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  3. ^ 2003/775 art 2.
  4. ^ a b s 18(4).
  5. ^ 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 4 March 2016.
  9. ^ Notice of knighthood of Sir Jeremy Johnson, the gazette.co.uk. Accessed 28 July 2023.
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