Law Weblog

New top judges take up their posts

The new team of top legal appointments is ushered in today at the start of the new legal year. The Right Honourable Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers becomes the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales.
The Right Honourable Sir Anthony Clarke becomes Master of the Rolls while The Right Honourable Lord Justice Judge takes up the new post of President of the Queen’s Bench Division. The new post was created by the Constitutional Reform Act, which received Royal Assent in April this year.
These provisions also change the statutory title of the Right Honourable Sir Andrew Morritt CVO from Vice-Chancellor to Chancellor of the High Court.
The Vice-Chancellor’s role and responsibilities will not otherwise be affected by the change of title with the Lord Chancellor formally remaining Head of the Chancery Division of the High Court until April 2006.
Lord Mance becomes a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (Law Lord) and there are four new Lord Justices of Appeal: The Right Honourable Lord Justice Wilson; The Right Honourable Lord Justice Moses; The Right Honourable Lord Justice Richards; and The Right Honourable Lady Justice Hallett.
There are six new Justices of the High Court: The Honourable Mr Justice Openshaw; The Honourable Mrs Justice Swift; The Honourable Mr Justice Langstaff; The Honourable Mr Justice Kitchin; The Honourable Mrs Justice Macur; and the Honourable Mr Justice Lloyd Jones.