Appointment of Judges

The Lord Chief Justice has announced the following appointments:

Judge in charge of the Commercial List

Mr Justice Andrew Smith will succeed Mr Justice David Steel on 1 January 2008, and is appointed for one year.

Judge in Charge of the Technology and Construction Court

Mr Justice Ramsey will succeed Mr Justice Jackson on 1 September 2007, and is appointed for three years.

Judge in Charge of the Jury and Non-Jury Lists

Mr Justice Eady’s appointment is extended to 1 October 2010.

Presiding Judges

The following appointments have been made with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, in succession to Mr Justice McCombe, Mr Justice Gibbs and Mr Justice Roderick Evans, all of whom stand down on 31 December 2007.

Northern Circuit: Mr Justice Irwin

Midland Circuit: Mrs Justice Macur

Wales Circuit: Mr Justice Lloyd Jones.

These appointments are made from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2011.

Family Division Liaison Judges

Mr Justice Hedley’s appointment as Family Division Liaison Judge for London has been extended for a further four years until 31 July 2011.

The following appointments have been made with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, in succession to Mrs Justice Macur and Mr Justice Bodey, both of whom stand down on 31 December 2007.

South East Circuit: Mrs Justice Baron

North East Circuit: Mr Justice Moylan

These appointments are made from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2011 *please see below . (Mr Justice Bodey will continue to hear cases which have been reserved to him from 21 January until 29 February 2008.)

*CORRECTION This sentence, which was included in the original news release, has now been amended to read:
"These appointments are made from 1 January 2008 and are open-ended."

Notes for editors :

1. Mr Justice Andrew Smith was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1974. He was appointed a QC in 1990 and a Recorder in 1996. In 2000 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division. He was the Presiding Judge of the North Eastern Circuit from 2003 until 2006.
2. Mr Justice Ramsey was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1979. He was appointed a QC in 1992 and a Recorder in 2000. In 2005 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division.
3. Mr Justice Eady was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1966. He was appointed a QC in 1983 and a Recorder in 1986. In 1997 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division.
4. Mr Justice Irwin was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1976. He was appointed a QC in 1997 and a Recorder in 2000. In 2006 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division. Mr Justice Irwin is a former Chairman of the Bar Council.
5. Mrs Justice Macur was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1979. She was appointed a QC in 1998 and a Recorder in 1999. In 2005 she was appointed a High Court Judge in the Family Division.
6. Mr Justice Lloyd Jones was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1975. He was Junior Crown Counsel (Common Law) from 1997-99. He was appointed a Recorder in 1994 and a QC in 1999. In 2005 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division.
7. Mr Justice Hedley was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1969. He was appointed a Recorder in 1988 and a Circuit Judge in 1992. In 2002 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Family Division.
8. Mrs Justice Baron was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1976. She was appointed a QC in 1995 and a Recorder in 1999. In 2003 she was appointed a High Court Judge in the Family Division.
9. Mr Justice Moylan was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1978. He was appointed a QC in 2000 and a Recorder in 2002. In 2007 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Family Division.

ENDS