High Court judge
Encyclopedia
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice
, and represents the third highest level of judge
in the courts of England and Wales
. High Court judges are referred to as puisne
judges. High court Judges wear red and black robes
), or in the case of female judges made Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
. So, for example, Nigel Bridge
became Sir Nigel Bridge and Brenda Hale
became Dame Brenda Hale DBE.
In court, a High Court judge is referred to as My Lord or Your Lordship if male, or as My Lady or Your Ladyship if female. High Court judges use the title in office of Mr Justice for men or Mrs Justice for women, even if unmarried. The style
of The Honourable (or The Hon) is also used during office. For example, Sir Joseph Bloggs would be referred to as The Hon Mr Justice Bloggs and Dame Jane Bloggs DBE as The Hon Mrs Justice Bloggs DBE, for as long as they continue to hold office. When there is already or has until recently been a judge with the same surname as a new appointee, the new judge will often use a first name as part of his or her official title. Many judges have done this, such as Mr Justice Christopher Clarke (Sir Christopher Simon Courternay Stephenson Clarke) and Mr Justice Roderick Evans (Sir David Roderick Evans).
When referring to a High Court judge in a legal context, the judge is identified by use of the surname (or first name and surname if appropriate), followed by the letter 'J'. For example, Mr Justice Bloggs or Mrs Justice Bloggs would be referred to as "Bloggs J". Where several judges are listed the double letters 'JJ' are used; for example, "Bloggs, Smith and Jones JJ".
and Lord Chancellor
. Under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005
a new Judicial Appointments Commission
has removed the appointment of judges from the political arena. High Court judges, as with other judges, are now appointed on the basis of open competition.
High Court judges, as with all judges in England and Wales, hold office during good behaviour; this is laid down in the Bill of Rights 1689
. A High Court judge can only be removed by the Queen upon an Address of both Houses of Parliament
.
Formerly, High Court judges could only be appointed from among barrister
s of at least 10 years' standing. However, , the vast majority of appointments to the High Court bench have been made from the ranks of senior barristers known as Queen's Counsel
. A typical appointee has in the region of twenty to thirty years' experience as a lawyer. Only five solicitors have been appointed as High Court judges - Sir John Wall
in 1990, Michael Sachs
in 1993, Lawrence Collins
in 2000, Henry Hodge
in 2004, and Gary Hickinbottom
in 2008. In 2007, Collins was elevated further to the Court of Appeal. Occasionally more junior members of the judiciary are elevated to this rank, such as Mr Justice Crane who was formerly a Circuit Judge and Mrs Justice Butler-Sloss (now Baroness Butler-Sloss) who was previously a Registrar in the Principal Registry of the Family Division of the High Court. A few distinguished academics have also made it on to the High Court bench, including Mrs Justice Hale (now Baroness Hale of Richmond) and, more recently, Mr Justice Beatson. In 2004, calls for increased diversity
among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential High Court Judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.
Appointments are made to one of the High Court's three divisions: The Chancery Division, the Queen's Bench Division and the Family Division.
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, and represents the third highest level of judge
Judiciary of England and Wales
There are various levels of judiciary in England and Wales — different types of courts have different styles of judges. They also form a strict hierarchy of importance, in line with the order of the courts in which they sit, so that judges of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales are generally...
in the courts of England and Wales
Courts of England and Wales
Her Majesty's Courts of Justice of England and Wales are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales; they apply the law of England and Wales and are established under Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The United Kingdom does not have...
. High Court judges are referred to as puisne
Puisne Justice
A Puisne Justice or Puisne Judge is the title for a regular member of a Court. This is distinguished from the head of the Court who is known as the Chief Justice or Chief Judge. The term is used almost exclusively in common law jurisdictions such as England, Australia, Kenya, Canada, Sri Lanka,...
judges. High court Judges wear red and black robes
Title and form of address
Upon appointment all High Court judges are knighted (usually as a Knight BachelorKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
), or in the case of female judges made Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. So, for example, Nigel Bridge
Nigel Bridge, Baron Bridge of Harwich
Nigel Cyprian Bridge, Baron Bridge of Harwich PC was a British barrister and judge. Bridge was the presiding judge at the trial of the Birmingham six in 1975, the verdict of which was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 1991, and he later served as a Law Lord.-Early and private life:Bridge's father...
became Sir Nigel Bridge and Brenda Hale
Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond
Brenda Marjorie Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, DBE, QC, PC, FBA is a British legal academic, barrister, judge and a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom....
became Dame Brenda Hale DBE.
In court, a High Court judge is referred to as My Lord or Your Lordship if male, or as My Lady or Your Ladyship if female. High Court judges use the title in office of Mr Justice for men or Mrs Justice for women, even if unmarried. The style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
of The Honourable (or The Hon) is also used during office. For example, Sir Joseph Bloggs would be referred to as The Hon Mr Justice Bloggs and Dame Jane Bloggs DBE as The Hon Mrs Justice Bloggs DBE, for as long as they continue to hold office. When there is already or has until recently been a judge with the same surname as a new appointee, the new judge will often use a first name as part of his or her official title. Many judges have done this, such as Mr Justice Christopher Clarke (Sir Christopher Simon Courternay Stephenson Clarke) and Mr Justice Roderick Evans (Sir David Roderick Evans).
When referring to a High Court judge in a legal context, the judge is identified by use of the surname (or first name and surname if appropriate), followed by the letter 'J'. For example, Mr Justice Bloggs or Mrs Justice Bloggs would be referred to as "Bloggs J". Where several judges are listed the double letters 'JJ' are used; for example, "Bloggs, Smith and Jones JJ".
Appointment
High Court judges, as with the other Senior Judiciary are appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime MinisterPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
and Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
. Under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005
Constitutional Reform Act 2005
The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It provided for a Supreme Court of the United Kingdom to take over the existing role of the Law Lords as well as some powers of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and removed the functions of Speaker of...
a new Judicial Appointments Commission
Judicial Appointments Commission
The Judicial Appointments Commission is responsible for selecting judges in England and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body which was created on 3 April 2006 as part of the reforms following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005...
has removed the appointment of judges from the political arena. High Court judges, as with other judges, are now appointed on the basis of open competition.
High Court judges, as with all judges in England and Wales, hold office during good behaviour; this is laid down in the Bill of Rights 1689
Bill of Rights 1689
The Bill of Rights or the Bill of Rights 1688 is an Act of the Parliament of England.The Bill of Rights was passed by Parliament on 16 December 1689. It was a re-statement in statutory form of the Declaration of Right presented by the Convention Parliament to William and Mary in March 1689 ,...
. A High Court judge can only be removed by the Queen upon an Address of both Houses of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
.
Formerly, High Court judges could only be appointed from among barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s of at least 10 years' standing. However, , the vast majority of appointments to the High Court bench have been made from the ranks of senior barristers known as Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. A typical appointee has in the region of twenty to thirty years' experience as a lawyer. Only five solicitors have been appointed as High Court judges - Sir John Wall
John Wall (judge)
Sir John Anthony Wall CBE was a British lawyer and the first visually impaired judge of the High Court of Justice of the 20th century....
in 1990, Michael Sachs
Michael Sachs (judge)
Sir Michael Alexander Geddes Sachs was the second English solicitor after John Wall to be appointed as a High Court judge...
in 1993, Lawrence Collins
Lawrence Collins
Lawrence Antony Collins, Baron Collins of Mapesbury, PC , is a British judge and former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He was also appointed to the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong on April 11, 2011 as a non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions...
in 2000, Henry Hodge
Henry Hodge
Sir Henry Egar Garfield Hodge, OBE , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Hodge, was an English solicitor and judge of the High Court of England and Wales....
in 2004, and Gary Hickinbottom
Gary Hickinbottom
Sir Gary Robert Hickinbottom , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Hickinbotton, is a British judge. In 2008, he became the fifth solicitor to be appointed a High Court judge, after John Wall in 1990, Michael Sachs in 1993, Lawrence Collins in 2000, and Henry Hodge in 2004.He was admitted as a solicitor in...
in 2008. In 2007, Collins was elevated further to the Court of Appeal. Occasionally more junior members of the judiciary are elevated to this rank, such as Mr Justice Crane who was formerly a Circuit Judge and Mrs Justice Butler-Sloss (now Baroness Butler-Sloss) who was previously a Registrar in the Principal Registry of the Family Division of the High Court. A few distinguished academics have also made it on to the High Court bench, including Mrs Justice Hale (now Baroness Hale of Richmond) and, more recently, Mr Justice Beatson. In 2004, calls for increased diversity
Diversity (politics)
In the political arena, the term diversity is used to describe political entities with members who have identifiable differences in their backgrounds or lifestyles....
among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential High Court Judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.
Appointments are made to one of the High Court's three divisions: The Chancery Division, the Queen's Bench Division and the Family Division.
See also
- List of High Court Judges of England and Wales
- Judicial titles in England and WalesJudicial titles in England and Wales-Lords of Appeal in Ordinary:-Heads of Division and Court of Appeal:-Lords Justices of Appeal:-High Court judges:-High Court masters and registrars:-Other judges:-Historic judicial titles:-References:* * * , Newcastle Law School...