Igor Judge
Encyclopedia
Igor Judge, Baron Judge PC (born 19 May 1941) is a Maltese
-born English judge and has been Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
, the head of the English judiciary, since October 2008. He had previously been President of the Queen's Bench Division
, at the time a newly created post assuming responsibilities transferred from the office of Lord Chief Justice.
to Raymond and Rosa Judge
(née Micallef). Judge was educated at St Edward's College, Cottonera, in Malta, from 1947 to 1954 and The Oratory School
in Woodcote
in Oxfordshire
from 1954 to 1959, where he was Captain of School and Captain of Cricket. He was awarded an Open Exhibition to study History and Law at Magdalene College, Cambridge
in 1959, and he graduated B.A.
in 1962. While at Cambridge he had become a member of Middle Temple
, and he was called to the bar in 1963.
in 1976 and Queen's Counsel
in 1979. From 1980 to 1986, he served on the Professional Conduct Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales. In 1987, he was elected Leader of the Midland Circuit, and he was appointed to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice
in 1988 and awarded the customary knighthood. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal
, a judge of the Court of Appeal
, in 1996, becoming a Privy Counsellor.
He was the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales
from 1998 to 2003, when he became Deputy Lord Chief Justice. He was not appointed as Lord Chief Justice
following the retirement of Lord Woolf
in 2005 despite having served as his deputy. The then Master of the Rolls
, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
, was appointed instead.
He was appointed as the first President of the Queen's Bench Division
in 2005 when that post was split from that of Lord Chief Justice. In addition to his role as President of the Queen's Bench Division, Judge was appointed Head of Criminal Justice in January 2007.
It was announced on 7 July 2008 that Lord Justice Judge would replace Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales on 1 October 2008. On 4 September 2008, it was announced that Sir Igor was to be elevated to the peerage
as a life peer. On 1 October 2008 he was created Baron Judge, of Draycote
in the county of Warwickshire
, and he was introduced into the House of Lords five days later. His successor as President of the Queen's Bench Division
was Sir Anthony May
.
In 2007 Lord Judge was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University
, and in 2010 was made an Honorary Fellow of Aberystwyth University as well as Kingston University.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
-born English judge and has been Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
, the head of the English judiciary, since October 2008. He had previously been President of the Queen's Bench Division
President of the Queen's Bench Division
The President of the Queen's Bench Division is the head of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The current President is Sir John Thomas....
, at the time a newly created post assuming responsibilities transferred from the office of Lord Chief Justice.
Early life
Judge was born in MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
to Raymond and Rosa Judge
Rosa Judge
Rosa Judge is a Maltese musician. She was educated at St Catherine's School in Sliema, Malta.-Career:In 1934 she was awarded the Gold Medal from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music for the highest distinction marks in the final grade. She was awarded an exhibition to the Royal...
(née Micallef). Judge was educated at St Edward's College, Cottonera, in Malta, from 1947 to 1954 and The Oratory School
The Oratory School
The Oratory School is a Roman Catholic, independent school for boys in Woodcote, Berkshire. It is the last Catholic all-boys boarding school remaining in Great Britain. It has approximately 420 pupils...
in Woodcote
Woodcote
Woodcote is a village in the civil parish in South Oxfordshire, about southeast of Wallingford and about northwest of Reading, Berkshire. It is in the Chiltern Hills, and the highest part of the village is above sea level....
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
from 1954 to 1959, where he was Captain of School and Captain of Cricket. He was awarded an Open Exhibition to study History and Law at Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
in 1959, and he graduated B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1962. While at Cambridge he had become a member of Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, and he was called to the bar in 1963.
Judicial career
He became a RecorderRecorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
in 1976 and 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...
in 1979. From 1980 to 1986, he served on the Professional Conduct Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales. In 1987, he was elected Leader of the Midland Circuit, and he was appointed to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice
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...
in 1988 and awarded the customary knighthood. He was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
, a judge of the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
, in 1996, becoming a Privy Counsellor.
He was the Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
from 1998 to 2003, when he became Deputy Lord Chief Justice. He was not appointed as Lord Chief Justice
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
following the retirement of Lord Woolf
Harry Woolf, Baron Woolf
Harry Kenneth Woolf, Baron Woolf, PC, FBA, , born 2 May 1933, was Master of the Rolls from 1996 until 2000 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2000 until 2005. The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 made him the first Lord Chief Justice to be President of the Courts of England and Wales...
in 2005 despite having served as his deputy. The then Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
Nicholas Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers
Nicholas Addison Phillips, Baron Phillips of Worth Matravers, KG PC is the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Before 1 October 2009 his title was Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He was Master of the Rolls from 2000 to 2005 and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2005...
, was appointed instead.
He was appointed as the first President of the Queen's Bench Division
President of the Queen's Bench Division
The President of the Queen's Bench Division is the head of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The current President is Sir John Thomas....
in 2005 when that post was split from that of Lord Chief Justice. In addition to his role as President of the Queen's Bench Division, Judge was appointed Head of Criminal Justice in January 2007.
It was announced on 7 July 2008 that Lord Justice Judge would replace Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales on 1 October 2008. On 4 September 2008, it was announced that Sir Igor was to be elevated to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
as a life peer. On 1 October 2008 he was created Baron Judge, of Draycote
Draycote
Draycote is a small hamlet in Warwickshire, England. It forms part of the civil parish of Bourton and Draycote along with nearby Bourton-on-Dunsmore, which is located around half a mile to the west, uphill from Draycote....
in the county of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, and he was introduced into the House of Lords five days later. His successor as President of the Queen's Bench Division
President of the Queen's Bench Division
The President of the Queen's Bench Division is the head of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The current President is Sir John Thomas....
was Sir Anthony May
Anthony May (judge)
Sir Anthony Tristram Kenneth May, PC is a British judge.On 1 October 2008, he succeeded Sir Igor Judge as President of the Queen's Bench Division. He was called to the Bar in 1967, became a Queen's Counsel in 1979, and a Recorder in 1985. He was appointed to the Queen's Bench Division in 1991,...
.
In 2007 Lord Judge was awarded an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
, and in 2010 was made an Honorary Fellow of Aberystwyth University as well as Kingston University.
Cases
- Corporate Officer of the House of Commons v Information CommissionerCorporate Officer of the House of Commons v Information CommissionerCorporate Officer of the House of Commons v Information Commissioner was the legal case which resulted from the attempt to prevent the disclosure of the expense claims of Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom under the Freedom of Information Act. The House of Commons lost the case.-External...
[2008] EWHC 1084 (Admin)