Sir James Munby QC

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...

, styled The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Munby, is a British

British people

The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...

  Court of Appeal judge

Judge

A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...

, and the present chairman of the Law Commission for England and Wales

Law Commission (England and Wales)

In England and Wales the Law Commission is an independent body set up by Parliament by the Law Commissions Act 1965 in 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reforms. The organisation is headed by a Chairman and four Law Commissioners...

.

Justice Munby was called to the bar in 1971, and is a former member of New Square Chambers

New Square Chambers

New Square Chambers is one of the leading commercial chancery sets in London. Based in Lincoln's Inn, it has 48 members of whom 8 are Queen's Counsel. Its head of chambers is Robin Hollington QC....

. He was appointed 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 1988 and then appointed as a High Court Judge in 2000, assigned to the Family Division

Family division

Family division can refer to:* Family Division of the High Court of Justice* divorce* annulment* division of property* alimony* parental responsibility * dysfunctional familyFor an overview, please see family and family law....

 and the Administrative Court.

Munby was the presiding judge when Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer

Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer

Charles Edward Maurice Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, DL , styled Viscount Althorp between 1975 and 1992, is a British peer and brother of Diana, Princess of Wales...

 divorced his second wife, Carolyn Freud. Spencer's barrister Nicholas Mostyn

Nicholas Mostyn

Sir Nicholas Anthony Joseph Ghislain Mostyn , styled The Hon. Mr Justice Mostyn, is a British High Court of Justice judge in the family division, and a former leading divorce lawyer.-Early life:...

 advised his client that the case could be heard in private, which Munby rejected, with the Earl was upset at the final settlement. Mostyn, a keen farmer, named his latest batch of seven pigs after his thoughts on Munby: James, Munby, Self-regarding, Pompous, Publicity, Seeking, Pillock. The Earl later unsuccessfully sued Mostyn.

Justice Munby was appointed to his current position by Justice Secretary

Justice Secretary

Justice Secretary can refer to:* Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Scotland* Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong* Secretary for Justice, see Department of Justice * Secretary of State for Justice, United Kingdom...

 Jack Straw

Jack Straw

Jack Straw , British politician.Jack Straw may also refer to:* Jack Straw , English* "Jack Straw" , 1971 song by the Grateful Dead* Jack Straw by W...

 on 1 August 2009, replacing The Right Honourable Lord Justice Etherton

Terence Etherton

Sir Terence Michael Elkan Barnet Etherton , styled The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Etherton, is a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.-Early life:...

.

In 2011 he held that "the laws and usages of the [UK] do not include Christianity, in whatever form”