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Appointment of Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The following appointments have been approved:

  • Mr Justice Briggs
  • Mr Justice Christopher Clarke
  • Mr Justice Floyd
  • Mr Justice Fulford
  • Mrs Justice Gloster
  • Mrs Justice Macur
  • Mr Justice Ryder
  • Mrs Justice Sharp
  • Mr Justice Underhill
  • Mr Justice Vos

These appointments will fill forthcoming vacancies in the Court of Appeal arising over 2013.

Note to Editors

These appointments are required in the light of the elevation of Sir Terence Etherton, Sir Roger Toulson and Sir Anthony Hughes, the retirements of Sir Alan Ward and Sir Malcolm Pill, and the forthcoming retirements of Lord Judge, Sir Bernard Rix, Sir Mathew Thorpe, Sir John Mummery and Sir Timothy Lloyd.

The appointment of Lord and Lady Justices of the Court of Appeal are made by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor following the recommendation of an independent selection panel chaired by Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge. The other panel members were:

  • the Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson
  • Christopher Stephens, Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission
  • Dame Valerie Strachan (lay commissioner nominated by the Chairman of the JAC for the interviews only)
  • Mrs Stella Pantelides (lay Commissioner nominated by the Chairman of the JAC for the sift only)

In accordance with section 79 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 the panel determined the selection process to be followed. In accordance with s10(3) of the Senior Courts Act 1981, the selection exercise was open to applicants that satisfied the judicial eligibility condition on a 7 year basis or were Judges of the High Court.

Biographical Notes

Mr Justice Briggs

Called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1978 and was Junior Counsel to Crown Chancery from 1990-94. He became a Queen’s Counsel in 1994. He was made a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn in 2001, and was appointed Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster on 24 July 2001. He held this post until shortly after his appointment on 3 July 2006 as a Justice of the High Court, when he was assigned to the Chancery Division. He is currently Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster, a Chancery judge appointed by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in consultation with the Lord Chancellor, to supervise Chancery business and hear cases on the North and North Eastern Circuits.

Mr Justice Christopher Clarke

Called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in 1969, Bencher 1991; Attorney of Supreme Court of Turks and Caicos Islands, 1975. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1984; a Recorder, 1990 to 2004; a Deputy High Court Judge, 1993 to 2004; a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey, 1998 to 2004. Counsel to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, 1998 to 2004. Councillor, International Bar Association, 1988 to 90; Chairman, Commercial Bar Association, 1993 to 95; Member, Bar Council, 1993 to 99. FRSA 1995. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, on 11 January 2005.

Mr Justice Floyd

Called to the Bar, Inner Temple, 1975, Bencher, 2001; called to the Bar of Republic of Ireland, 1988. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992; Assistant Recorder, 1994 to 2000; a Deputy High Court Judge (Patents Court), 1998 to 2007; a Recorder, 2000 to 2007. He was appointed Deputy Chairman, Copyright Tribunal, 1995 to 2007; Chairman, Competition Appeal Tribunal, 2007 onwards. Member: Bar Council Chairman’ Arbitration/Conciliation Panel, 1996 to 2007; Bar Council Professional Conduct and Complaints Committee, 1998 to 2002; Bar Council, 2000 to 04; Bar Council European Committee, 2003 to 04; Litigation Accreditation Board Appeal Panel, Chartered Institute Patent Attorneys, 2005 to 07; Enlarged Board of Appeal, European Patent Office, 2011 onwards; Chairman, Intellectual Property Bar Association, 1999 to 2004. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division on 8 November 2007. He has been the Senior Judge, Patents Court, since 2011.

Mr Justice Fulford

Housing Advisor, Shelter’s Housing Aid Centre, 1974 to 75; called to the Bar, Middle Temple, 1978, Bencher, 2002. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994; a Recorder, 2001 to 02. Editor, UK Human Rights Reports, 2000 to 2010 Hon. DLaws Southampton, 2011. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, on 22 November 2002. He was a Judge of the International Criminal Court, The Hague, from 2003 to 2012 (President, Trial Division, 2008 to 2012; Presiding Judge, Trial Chamber I, 2007 to 2012). He is currently the Lead Presiding Judge, South Eastern Circuit.

Mrs Justice Gloster

Graduated from Girton College, Cambridge. She was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, 1971, Bencher 1992. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1989; a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey, 1993 to 2004; a Recorder, 1995 to 2004; Judge in Charge of Commercial Court, 2010 to 2012. Mem, panel of Counsel who appear for DTI in company matters, 1982 to 1989. Mem Hon Fellow, Harris Manchester College, Oxford, 2006. She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division (Commercial Court) on 21 April 2004. Hon Fellow, Girton College, Cambridge, 2011.

Mrs Justice Macur

Called to the Bar, Lincoln’s Inn, 1979 (Bencher, 2005); Midland and Oxford Circuit. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1998; a Recorder, 1999 to 2005. She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Family Division, on 3 October 2005. She was Family Liaison Judge for the South Eastern Circuit from 2007 until she was appointed Presiding Judge on the Midland Circuit, 2008 to 2011.

Mr Justice Ryder

Merchant banker, Grindley Brandt & Co, 1979; called to the Bar, Gray’s Inn, 1981; QC 1997; Asst Recorder, 1997 to 2000; a Recorder, 2000 to 2004; a Dep High Court Judge, 2001 to 2004; Northern Circuit. Counsel, N Wales Tribunal of Inquiry, 1996 to 1999. Asst Boundary Comr, 2000 to 2004. Commnd Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry, 1981; Sqdn Leader, 1990; Sqdn Leader, Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, 1992. Awarded TD. 1994 DL Greater Manchester, 2009. FRSA 2010. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Family Division, on 4 May 2004. He was a Family Division Liaison Judge for the Northern Circuit until he became Presider Judge, Northern Circuit, in 2010. He has been Judge in Charge of Modernisation of Family Justice, since 2011

Mrs Justice Sharp

Called to the Bar, Inner Temple, 1979, Bencher 2009. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2001 and a Recorder in 1998. She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division on 13 January 2009. She has been a Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit since 2012.

Mr Justice Underhill

Called to the Bar, Gray’s Inn, 1976 (Bencher 2000). He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992 and was a Recorder 1994 to 2006; Attorney General to HRH the Prince of Wales 1998 to 2006; a Deputy High Court Judge 1998 to 2006; and a Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal, 2000 to 2003. He was Chairman of the Bar Pro Bono Unit 2002 to 2005. Appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, on 30 January 2006. He has been a Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal since 2006 and was its President 2009 to 2011.

Mr Justice Vos

Called to the Bar, Inner Temple, 1977; Bencher, Lincoln’s Inn, 2000. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1993; a Judge of Courts of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey, 2005 to 2009; Judge of the Court of Appeal of Cayman Islands, 2008 to 2009. Chairman Chancery Bar Association, 1999 to 2001 (Honorary Secretary, 1994 to 1997; Vice-Chairman, 1997 to 1999). Chairman Bar Council, 2007 (Vice Chairman 2006, Chairman Professional Standards Committee 2004 to 2005; Member, General Management Committee, 2004 to 2007). Member, Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, 2009. Trustee: Social Mobility Foundation, 2007 to 2011 (Chairman, 2008 to 2011); Slynn Foundation, 2009 to date. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division on 27 October 2009 and is currently a Nominated Judge of the Patents Court.

Published 28 March 2013