The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales

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...

. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of 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...

, after the 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...

, but that changed as a result of 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...

, which removed the judicial functions from the office of Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chief Justice is also the presiding judge of the Criminal Division 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...

. The first Lord Chief Justice to act as head of the judiciary after the Lord Chancellor relinquished that role was 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...

.

Under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Lord Chief Justice is chosen by a specially appointed committee, convened by the 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...

. The current Lord Chief Justice is Lord Judge, who took over the role on 1 October 2008 following the promotion of Lord Phillips to the position of Senior Law Lord. In Lord Judge's case, Judge is his family's coincidental surname, not an affectation or title.

Until 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...

 came into force on 3 April 2006, the Lord Chief Justice was also the head of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court. There is now a separate post of 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....

 of the High Court, currently held by 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,...

.

Originally, each of the three high common law

Common law

Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...

 courts – the King's Bench, the Court of Common Pleas

Court of Common Pleas (England)

The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...

, and the Court of the Exchequer

Exchequer of pleas

The Exchequer of Pleas or Court of Exchequer was a court that followed equity, a set of legal principles based on natural law, and common law, in England and Wales. Originally part of the curia regis, or King's Council, the Exchequer of Pleas split from the curia during the 1190s, to sit as an...

 – had its own chief justice. That of the Exchequer Court was styled as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer

Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer

The Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first "baron" of the English Exchequer of pleas. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who presided in the equity court and answered the bar i.e...

, and that of the Common Pleas was Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, leaving the head of the King's (or Queen's) Bench to be known simply as the Lord Chief Justice. Although the Court of the King's (or Queen's) Bench

King's Bench

The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...

 had existed since 1234, the title of chief justice was not used until 1268. In the intermediary period, one of the justices would be considered the senior judge, and hold a position similar to that later held by the chief justice. The courts, however, were combined in 1875, creating a single Lord Chief Justice of England.

The suffix "and Wales", now found in statutes and elsewhere, was unilaterally appended by Lord Bingham between 1996 and 2000. There is also a Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland

Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland

The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is the head of the judiciary in Northern Ireland, presiding over the Courts of Northern Ireland. The present Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is Sir Declan Morgan...

. The Lord Chief Justice's equivalent in Scotland is the Lord President of the Court of Session

Lord President of the Court of Session

The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary in Scotland, and presiding judge of the College of Justice and Court of Session, as well as being Lord Justice General of Scotland and head of the High Court of Justiciary, the offices having been combined in 1836...

, who also holds the post of Lord Justice-General in the High Court of Justiciary

High Court of Justiciary

The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal. As a court of first instance, the High Court sits mainly in Parliament House, or in the former Sheriff Court building, in Edinburgh, but also sits from time...

.

Chief Justices, King's (Queen's) Bench, to 1875

Chief Justices, King's (Queen's) Bench	day, month	from	day, month	till	remarks
William de Raley William de Raley William de Raley was a medieval judge, administrator and bishop.-Life:In 1212 Raley was presented with the church of Bratton Fleming, with his occupation being described as "clerk". He is known to have served as a clerk of the bench in 1214, and again from 1219 to 1229...		1234		1239
Sir Stephen de Segrave Stephen de Segrave Stephen de Segrave was a medieval Chief Justiciar of England.-Life:...		1239		1241
William of York		1241		1247
Henry of Bath Henry of Bath Henry de Bada was a British judge and administrator. He began his career under his relative Hugh of Bath, who died in 1236, leaving his chattels to Henry. Henry started his administrative career as a bailiff for the Honour of Berkhamsted in 1221, succeeding Hugh as Under-Sheriff of Berkshire...		1249		1251
Sir Gilbert of Seagrave		1251		1253
Henry of Bath Henry of Bath Henry de Bada was a British judge and administrator. He began his career under his relative Hugh of Bath, who died in 1236, leaving his chattels to Henry. Henry started his administrative career as a bailiff for the Honour of Berkhamsted in 1221, succeeding Hugh as Under-Sheriff of Berkshire...		1253		1260
Sir William of Wilton		1261		1263
Nicholas de Turri		1265		1267
Sir Robert I of Scotland Robert I of Scotland Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...		1268	6 November	1269
Richard of Staines Richard of Staines Richard of Staines was an English clerical judge. He acted as an Itinerant Justice, visiting 11 counties in 1208 before his appointment as a justice of the Court of King's Bench in 1209. He became Lord Chief Justice in 1269, and after the coronation of Edward I in 1273 was moved to the Court of...	6 November	1269		1273
Martin of Littlebury Martin of Littlebury Sir Martin of Littlebury was a British clerk and justice. He was first recorded in 1242 working as a Kings clerk, although it is assumed that he had been previously working for the government as he was, in 1242, awarded the Moiety of a church in Blackburn, and also given a papal indulgence in...		1273		1274
Ralph de Hengham Ralph de Hengham Sir Ralph de Hengham was an English justice. His first employer was Giles of Erdington a justice of the Common Bench, whose service he entered as a clerk before 1255...		1274		1290
Gilbert de Thornton		1290		1296
Sir Roger le Brabazon		1296	March	1316
Sir William Inge (judge) William Inge (judge) Sir William Inge was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for a few months from 1316 to 1317. He was born in or near Dunstable, Bedfordshire, the son of Thomas Inge, a minor landowner and administrator. William Inge acted as an attorney at the common bench from 1281 and 1285,...	March	1316	15 June	1317
Sir Henry le Scrope Henry le Scrope Sir Henry le Scrope was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for two periods between 1317 and 1330. He was the eldest son of Sir William le Scrope , who was bailiff to the earl of Richmond in Richmondshire...	15 June	1317	September	1323
Hervey de Stanton Hervey de Stanton Hervey de Stanton was an English judge and Chancellor of the Exchequer.-Origins and early career:...	September	1323	21 March	1324
Sir Geoffrey le Scrope Geoffrey le Scrope Sir Geoffrey le Scrope was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for four periods between 1324 and 1338. He was the son of Sir William le Scrope, who was bailiff to the earl of Richmond in Richmondshire...	21 March	1324	1 May	1329
Sir Robert de Malberthorp Robert de Malberthorp Sir Robert de Malberthorp was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1329. He was the son and heir of Sir William of Malberthorpe, lord of the manor of Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire....	1 May	1329	28 October	1329
Sir Henry le Scrope Henry le Scrope Sir Henry le Scrope was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for two periods between 1317 and 1330. He was the eldest son of Sir William le Scrope , who was bailiff to the earl of Richmond in Richmondshire...	28 October	1329	19 December	1330
Sir Geoffrey le Scrope Geoffrey le Scrope Sir Geoffrey le Scrope was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for four periods between 1324 and 1338. He was the son of Sir William le Scrope, who was bailiff to the earl of Richmond in Richmondshire...	19 December	1330	28 March	1332
Sir Richard de Willoughby Richard de Willoughby Sir Richard de Willoughby was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for three periods between 1332 and 1340. His father, another Richard, served as chief justice of the bench in Ireland from 1323 until his death in 1325...	28 March	1332	20 September	1332
Sir Geoffrey le Scrope Geoffrey le Scrope Sir Geoffrey le Scrope was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for four periods between 1324 and 1338. He was the son of Sir William le Scrope, who was bailiff to the earl of Richmond in Richmondshire...	20 September	1332	10 September	1333
Sir Richard de Willoughby Richard de Willoughby Sir Richard de Willoughby was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for three periods between 1332 and 1340. His father, another Richard, served as chief justice of the bench in Ireland from 1323 until his death in 1325...	10 September	1333		1337
Sir Geoffrey le Scrope Geoffrey le Scrope Sir Geoffrey le Scrope was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for four periods between 1324 and 1338. He was the son of Sir William le Scrope, who was bailiff to the earl of Richmond in Richmondshire...		1337	October	1338
Sir Richard de Willoughby Richard de Willoughby Sir Richard de Willoughby was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench for three periods between 1332 and 1340. His father, another Richard, served as chief justice of the bench in Ireland from 1323 until his death in 1325...	October	1338	21 July	1340
Sir Robert Parning Robert Parning Sir Robert Parning was an English lawyer and administrator. He served as Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1340 to 1341, Treasurer from January to October 1341, and Chancellor from 1341 to 1343. Originally from Cumberland, he was knight of the shire for this county five times between 1325...	21 July	1340	8 January	1341
Sir William Scott William Scott (justice) Sir William Scott was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from January 8, 1341 to November 26, 1346. Originally from Yorkshire - probably Birthwaite in Kexbrough - Scott as Chief Justice presided over trials resulting from Edward III's purge of the administration the previous...	8 January	1341	26 November	1346
Sir William de Thorpe William de Thorpe Sir William de Thorpe was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from November 26, 1346 to October 26, 1350. As a clerk of this court he was assaulted on one occasion in 1318, when his enemies allegedly even urinated on him...	26 November	1346	26 October	1350
Sir William de Shareshull William de Shareshull Sir William de Shareshull was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 26 October 1350 to 5 July 1361.Shareshull came from relatively humble Staffordshire origins, rising to great prominence under the administration of Edward III of England; he was responsible for the 1351...	26 October	1350	24 May	1361
Sir Henry Green Henry Green (justice) Sir Henry Green was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from May 24, 1361 to October 29, 1365. He probably came from Northamptonshire. Early in his career he served both Queen Isabella and Edward the Black Prince. He was made justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1354, and...	24 May	1361	29 October	1365
Sir John Knyvet John Knyvet Sir John Knyvet was an English lawyer and administrator. He was Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1365 to 1372, and Lord Chancellor of England from 1372 to 1377.-Life:...	29 October	1365	15 July	1372
Sir John de Cavendish John Cavendish Sir John Cavendish of Cavendish came from Cavendish, Suffolk, England. He and the village gave the name Cavendish to the aristocratic families, of the Dukedoms of Devonshire, Newcastle and Portland.-Biography:...	15 July	1372	14 June	1381	murdered in the Peasants' Revolt Peasants' Revolt The Peasants' Revolt, Wat Tyler's Rebellion, or the Great Rising of 1381 was one of a number of popular revolts in late medieval Europe and is a major event in the history of England. Tyler's Rebellion was not only the most extreme and widespread insurrection in English history but also the... )
Sir Robert Tresilian Robert Tresilian Robert Tresilian was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench between 1381 and 1387. He was born in Cornwall, and held land in Tresillian, near Truro...	22 June	1381	31 January	1388
Sir Walter de Cloptone	31 January	1388	15 November	1400
Sir William Gascoigne William Gascoigne Sir William Gascoigne Kt. was Chief Justice of England during the reign of King Henry IV. Sir William Gascoigne was born in Gawthorpe W-Riding, Yorks. In 1369, William married Elizabeth de Mowbray...	15 November	1400	29 March	1413
Sir William Hankeford William Hankeford Sir William Hankeford KS was an English lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1413 until 1423. His parentage is not known, but he came from a gentry family from Hankford, near Bulkworthy in Devon. He was educated at the Middle Temple, appointed serjeant-at-law in 1388 and king's...	29 March	1413	21 January	1424
Sir William Cheyne	21 January	1424	20 January	1439
Sir John Juyn John Juyn Sir John Juyn SL was a British judge. He was the son of John Juhyne, a wool merchant from Bristol, and his wife Margery. After the death of his father in 1390, Juyn inherited his estates in Bristol, Bedminster and Knowle, and his contacts with the Bristolian merchant community helped with his...	20 January	1439	13 April	1440
Sir John Hody John Hody Sir John Hody was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench-Origins:Hody was descended from a family of considerable antiquity, though of no great note, in Devon. Jordan de Hode held lands in Hode in the thirteenth century; Richard de Hody was the king's escheator of that county in...	13 April	1440	25 January	1442
Sir John Fortescue	25 January	1442	13 May	1461
Sir John Markham John Markham Sir John Markham was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench-Origins:Markham was the son of John Markham, a judge of the Common Pleas, by either his first or second wife...	13 May	1461	23 January	1469
Sir Thomas Billing Thomas Billing Sir Thomas Billing was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:Billing is said by Fuller to have been a native of Northamptonshire, where two villages near Northampton bear his name, and to have afterwards lived in state at Ashwell in that county. Lord...	23 January	1469	7 May	1481
Sir William Hussey William Hussey (judge) Sir William Hussey , SL was an English judge who served as Chief Justice of the King’s Bench....	7 May	1481	24 November	1495
Sir John Fineux John Fineux Sir John Fineux was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:Fineux was the son of William Fyneux of Swingfield, Kent, his mother's name being Monyngs. The family of Fyneux or Fineux was of great antiquity in Kent...	24 November	1495	23 January	1526
Sir John Fitz-James	23 January	1526	21 January	1539
Sir Edward Montagu	21 January	1539	9 November	1545
Sir Richard Lyster Richard Lyster Sir Richard Lyster was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Origins and early career:Sir Frederick Madden in his "Remarks on the Monument of Sir Richard Lyster in St. Michael's Church Southampton," describes both the judge's grandfather, Thomas, and his father, John, as of...	9 November	1545	21 March	1552
Sir Roger Cholmeley Roger Cholmeley Sir Roger Cholmeley was Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench from 1552 to 1553.-Background and early life:...	21 March	1552	4 October	1553
Sir Thomas Bromley Thomas Bromley (chief justice) Sir Thomas Bromley was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:Bromley was of an old Staffordshire family, and a second cousin of Sir Thomas Bromley . His father was Roger, son of Roger Bromley of Mitley, Shropshire, and his mother was Jane, daughter of Mr....	4 October	1553	11 June	1555
Sir William Portman William Portman Sir William Portman was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Origins and early career:Portman was the son of John Portman, who was buried in the Temple Church on 5 June 1521, by Alice, daughter of William Knoell of Dorset...	11 June	1555	8 May	1557
Sir Edward Saunders Edward Saunders (judge) Sir Edward Saunders was an English judge and Chief Justice of the Queen’s Bench.-Early life and career:Saunders was the third son of Thomas Saunders of Sibertoft or of Harrington, Northamptonshire, by Margaret, daughter of Richard Cave. His younger brother was Laurence Saunders, the martyr. He was...	8 May	1557	22 January	1559
Sir Robert Catlyn Robert Catlyn Sir Robert Catlyn was an English judge and Chief Justice of the Queen’s Bench.-Origins and early career:The branch of the Catlyn family from which Robert Catlyn was descended was anciently seated at Raunds in Northamptonshire. He was born at Thrapstone in that county, and became a member of the...	22 January	1559	8 November	1574
Sir Christopher Wray Christopher Wray Sir Christopher Wray was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:Wray, the third son of Thomas Wray, seneschal in 1535 of Coverham Abbey, Yorkshire, by Joan, daughter of Robert Jackson of Gatenby, Bedale, in the same county, was born at Bedale in 1524...	8 November	1574	2 June	1592
Sir John Popham	2 June	1592	25 June	1607
Sir Thomas Fleming Thomas Fleming (judge) Sir Thomas Fleming was an English member of Parliament and judge, whose most famous case was the trial of Guy Fawkes in relation to the Gunpowder Plot...	25 June	1607	25 October	1613
Sir Edward Coke Edward Coke Sir Edward Coke SL PC was an English barrister, judge and politician considered to be the greatest jurist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Born into a middle class family, Coke was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge before leaving to study at the Inner Temple, where he was called to the...	25 October	1613	16 November	1616
Sir Henry Montagu Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester Sir Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester was an English judge, politician and peer.-Life:He was the grandson of Sir Edward Montagu, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1539 to 1545, who was named by King Henry VIII one of the executors of his will, and governor to his son, Edward VI.Born...	16 November	1616	29 January	1621
Sir James Ley James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February...	29 January	1621	26 January	1625
Sir Ranulph Crewe Ranulph Crewe Sir Ranulph Crewe was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:...	26 January	1625	5 February	1627
Sir Nicholas Hyde Nicholas Hyde Sir Nicholas Hyde was Lord Chief Justice of England.He was the son of Lawrence Hyde and Ann Sybill and the brother of Henry Hyde and Lawrence Hyde, who became attorney-general...	5 February	1627	24 October	1631
Sir Thomas Richardson Thomas Richardson (judge) Sir Thomas Richardson was successively Speaker of the House of Commons, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Origins and early career:...	24 October	1631	4 February	1635	died in office
Sir John Brampston John Brampston Sir John Bramston the elder was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:...	14 April	1635	31 October	1642
Sir Robert Heath Robert Heath Sir Robert Heath was an English lawyer and judge.-Early life:He was educated at Tunbridge Wells grammar school, St John's College, Cambridge from age 14 and Clifford's Inn from age 17; and became a barrister of the Inner Temple in 1603. He was an MP for the City of London in 1620, and became...	31 October	1642	October	1645
Sir Henry Rolle Henry Rolle Henry Rolle was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:Henry Rolle, the second son of Robert Rolle of Heanton Sachville, Devon , by Joan, daughter of Thomas Hele of Fleet in the same county, was born about 1589. John Rolle was his brother...	12 October	1648	15 June	1655
John Glynne	15 June	1655	17 January	1660
Sir Richard Newdigate Sir Richard Newdigate, 1st Baronet -Life:He was born on 17 September 1602, a younger son of Sir John Newdigate of Arbury Hall, in the parish of Chilvers Coton, Warwickshire, by Anne Fitton, eldest daughter of Sir Edward Fitton, baronet, of Gawsworth in Cheshire. John Newdegate was his grandfather...	17 January	1660	1 October	1660
Sir Robert Foster Robert Foster (judge) Sir Robert Foster was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early career:Foster was the youngest son of Sir Thomas Foster, a judge of the common pleas in the time of James I. He was born in 1589, admitted a member of the Inner Temple in 1604, and called to the bar in January 1610...	1 October	1660	19 October	1663
Sir Robert Hyde Robert Hyde Sir Robert Hyde was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early career:Hyde, who was born at his father's house, Heale, near Salisbury, in 1595, was second son of Sir Lawrence Hyde, attorney-general to Anne, the consort of James I, by his wife, Barbara Castilion of Marsh Benham,...	19 October	1663	21 November	1665
Sir John Kelynge John Kelynge John Kelynge KS was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early career:Kelynge was admitted into the Inner Temple on 22 January 1624. His father was of the same inn and is described as a resident of Hertford. He was called to the bar on 10 February, 1632, and from this time to...	21 November	1665	18 May	1671
Sir Matthew Hale Matthew Hale (jurist) Sir Matthew Hale SL was an influential English barrister, judge and jurist most noted for his treatise Historia Placitorum Coronæ, or The History of the Pleas of the Crown. Born to a barrister and his wife, who had both died by the time he was 5, Hale was raised by his father's relative, a strict...	18 May	1671	12 April	1676
Sir Richard Raynsford Richard Raynsford Richard Raynsford SL was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King's Bench.-Career:The second son of Robert Raynsford of Staverton, Northamptonshire, by his first wife, Mary, daughter of Thomas Kirton of Thorpe Mandeville in the same county, he was born in 1605. He matriculated at Exeter...	12 April	1676	31 May	1678
Sir William Scroggs William Scroggs Sir William Scroggs , Lord Chief Justice of England, was the son of an Oxford landowner; an account of him being the son of a butcher of sufficient means to give his son a university education is merely a rumour....	31 May	1678	11 April	1681
Sir Francis Pemberton Francis Pemberton Sir Francis Pemberton was an English judge and briefly Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in the course of a turbulent career.-Early life:...	11 April	1681	28 September	1683
George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem, PC , also known as "The Hanging Judge", was an English judge. He became notable during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor .- Early years and education :Jeffreys was born at the family estate of Acton Hall, near Wrexham,...	28 September	1683	23 October	1685
Sir Edward Herbert Edward Herbert (judge) Sir Edward Herbert , titular Earl of Portland, was an English judge who served as Chief Justice of the King’s Bench during the reign of James II.-Early life and career:...	23 October	1685	22 April	1687
Sir Robert Wright Robert Wright (judge) Sir Robert Wright was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench 1687–89.-Early life:Wright was the son of Jermyn Wright of Wangford in Suffolk, by his wife Anne, daughter of Richard Bachcroft of Bexwell in Norfolk. He was descended from a family long seated at Kelverstone in Norfolk,...	22 April	1687	17 April	1689
Sir John Holt John Holt (judge) Sir John Holt was an English lawyer and served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 17 April 1689 to his death.-Biography:...	17 April	1689	5 March	1710
Thomas Parker, 1st Baron Parker Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield PC, FRS was an English Whig politician.-Youth and early career:He was born in Staffordshire, the son of Thomas Parker, an attorney at Leek. He was educated at Adams' Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge...	11 March	1710	15 May	1718
Sir John Pratt John Pratt (judge) Sir John Pratt was an English judge and politician.Pratt was Lord Chief Justice of England from May 15, 1718 until March 2, 1725. He was appointed as an interim Chancellor of the Exchequer on February 2, 1721, until April 3, 1721....	15 May	1718	2 March	1725
Sir Robert Raymond Robert Raymond, 1st Baron Raymond Robert Raymond, 1st Baron Raymond PC was a British judge.Robert Raymond was the son of the judge Thomas Raymond. He was educated at Eton and Christ's College, Cambridge. Said to have been admitted to Gray's Inn aged nine, he became a barrister in 1697 and was admitted at Lincoln's Inn in 1710...	2 March	1725	31 October	1733
Philip Yorke, 1st Baron Hardwicke Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke PC was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1754 and 1756 and 1757 until 1762....	31 October	1733	8 June	1737
Sir William Lee	8 June	1737	2 May	1754
Sir Dudley Ryder Dudley Ryder (judge) Sir Dudley Ryder was a British politician, judge and diarist.-Career:The son of a draper, Ryder studied at a dissenting academy in Hackney and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and Leiden University in The Netherlands. He went to the Middle Temple in 1713 and was called to the Bar in 1719...	2 May	1754	8 November	1756
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, SL, PC was a British barrister, politician and judge noted for his reform of English law. Born to Scottish nobility, he was educated in Perth, Scotland before moving to London at the age of 13 to take up a place at Westminster School...	8 November	1756	4 June	1788	Earl of Mansfield from 1776
Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon Lloyd Kenyon, 1st Baron Kenyon, PC, SL, KC was a British politician and barrister, who served as Attorney General, Master of the Rolls and Lord Chief Justice. Born to a country gentleman, he was initially educated in Hanmer before moving to Ruthin School aged 12...	4 June	1788	11 April	1802
Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough PC KC was an English judge. After serving as a Member of Parliament and Attorney General, he became Lord Chief Justice.-Early life:...	11 April	1802	2 November	1818
Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden Charles Abbott, 1st Baron Tenterden PC SL , was a British barrister and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench between 1818 and 1832. Born in obscure circumstances to a barber and his wife in Canterbury, Abbott was educated initially at a dame school before moving to The King's...	2 November	1818	4 November	1832
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman PC KC was a British lawyer, judge and politician. He served as Lord Chief Justice between 1832 and 1850.-Background and education:Denman was born in London, the son of Dr Thomas Denman...	4 November	1832	5 March	1850
John Campbell, 1st Baron Campbell of St Andrews	5 March	1850	24 June	1859
Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet Sir Alexander James Edmund Cockburn, 12th Baronet Q.C. was a Scottish lawyer, politician and judge. A notorious womaniser and socialite, as Lord Chief Justice he heard some of the leading causes célèbres of the 19th century.-Life:Cockburn was born in Alţâna, in what is now Romania and was then...	24 June	1859	1 November	1875

Lords Chief Justice of England (later England and Wales), 1875–present

• Sir Alexander Cockburn
  Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet
  Sir Alexander James Edmund Cockburn, 12th Baronet Q.C. was a Scottish lawyer, politician and judge. A notorious womaniser and socialite, as Lord Chief Justice he heard some of the leading causes célèbres of the 19th century.-Life:Cockburn was born in Alţâna, in what is now Romania and was then...
  
   (1 November 1875 – 20 November 1880) (died in office)
• Lord Coleridge
  John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge
  John Duke Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge PC was a British lawyer, judge and Liberal politician. He held the posts, in turn, of Solicitor General for England and Wales, Attorney General for England and Wales, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Chief Justice of England.-Background and...
  
   (29 November 1880 – 14 June 1894) (died in office)
• Lord Russell of Killowen
  Charles Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen
  Charles Arthur Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen, GCMG, PC, was an Irish statesman of the 19th century, and Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.-Early life:...
  
   (11 July 1894 – 10 August 1900) (died in office)
• Viscount Alverstone
  Richard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone
  Richard Everard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone, GCMG, QC was a British barrister, politician and judge who served in many high political and judicial offices.-Background and education:...
  
   (24 October 1900 – 21 October 1913)
• The Earl of Reading
  Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
  Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC , was an English lawyer, jurist and politician...
  
   (21 October 1913 – 8 March 1921)
• Lord Trevethin
  Alfred Lawrence, 1st Baron Trevethin
  Alfred Tristram Lawrence, 1st Baron Trevethin PC was a British lawyer and judge. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1921 to 1922....
  
   (15 April 1921 – 2 March 1922)
• Viscount Hewart
  Gordon Hewart, 1st Viscount Hewart
  Gordon Hewart, 1st Viscount Hewart, PC was a politician and judge in the United Kingdom.-Background and education:...
  
   (8 March 1922 – 12 October 1940)
• Viscount Caldecote
  Thomas Inskip, 1st Viscount Caldecote
  Thomas Walker Hobart Inskip, 1st Viscount Caldecote CBE, PC, KC was a British politician who served in many legal posts, culminating in serving as Lord Chancellor from 1939 until 1940...
  
   (14 October 1940 – 23 January 1946) (previously Lord Chancellor)
• Lord Goddard
  Rayner Goddard, Baron Goddard
  Rayner Goddard, Baron Goddard was Lord Chief Justice of England from 1946 to 1958 and known for his strict sentencing and conservative views. He was nicknamed the 'Tiger' and "Justice-in-a-jiffy" for his no-nonsense manner...
  
   (23 January 1946 – 29 September 1958)
• The Lord Parker of Waddington
  Hubert Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington
  Hubert Lister Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington PC was a British Judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1958 to 1971...
  
   (29 September 1958 – 20 April 1971)
• Lord Widgery
  John Widgery, Baron Widgery
  John Passmore Widgery, Baron Widgery, OBE, TD, QC, PC was an English judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1971 to 1980...
  
   (20 April 1971 – 15 April 1980)
• Lord Lane
  Geoffrey Lane, Baron Lane
  Geoffrey Dawson Lane, Baron Lane AFC PC QC was a British Judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1980 to 1992. The later part of his term was marred by a succession of disputed convictions...
  
   (15 April 1980 – 27 April 1992)
• Lord Taylor of Gosforth
  Peter Taylor, Baron Taylor of Gosforth
  Peter Murray Taylor, Baron Taylor of Gosforth PC was the Lord Chief Justice of England from 1992 until his premature retirement in 1996, due to poor health which led to his death the following year.-Family:...
  
   (27 April 1992 -4 June 1996)
• Lord Bingham of Cornhill (4 June 1996 – 6 June 2000)
• 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...
  
   (6 June 2000 – 30 September 2005)
• 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...
  
   (30 September 2005 – 1 October 2008)
• Lord Judge (1 October 2008 – )

External links

• Information on the Lord Chief Justice from judiciary.gov.uk