John Thomas (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir Roger John Laugharne Thomas, PC, (born 22 October 1947) is a member of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
and Vice-President of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice
. He has been appointed President of the Queen's Bench Division
effective 3 October 2011.
Thomas was called to the Bar in 1969 (Gray's Inn
). He became a Queen's Counsel
in 1984 and was appointed a Recorder
in 1987. In 1996, he was appointed to High Court, receiving the customary knighthood
, and was assigned to the Queen's Bench Division, serving on the Commercial Court until his appointment to the Court of Appeal. On 14 July 2003, Thomas became a Lord Justice of Appeal
and given the customary appointment to the Privy Council later that year. He served as the Commercial Court's senior presiding judge from 2003 to 2006, and President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary from 2008 to 2010. In 2008, Thomas was also appointed Vice-President of the Queen's Bench Division and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice. On 8 June 2011, it was announced he would succeed Sir Anthony May
as President of the Queen's Bench Division
from 3 October.
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...
and Vice-President of 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...
. He has been appointed 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....
effective 3 October 2011.
Thomas was called to the Bar in 1969 (Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
). He became a 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 1984 and was appointed a Recorder
Recorder (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 1987. In 1996, he was appointed to High Court, receiving the customary knighthood
Knight 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...
, and was assigned to the Queen's Bench Division, serving on the Commercial Court until his appointment to the Court of Appeal. On 14 July 2003, Thomas became 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:...
and given the customary appointment to the Privy Council later that year. He served as the Commercial Court's senior presiding judge from 2003 to 2006, and President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary from 2008 to 2010. In 2008, Thomas was also appointed Vice-President of the Queen's Bench Division and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice. On 8 June 2011, it was announced he would succeed 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,...
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....
from 3 October.