High Court Appointments
The Queen is pleased to approve the appointment of six Justices of the High Court. These appointments will take effect from 1 October 2020. It is anticipated that a further ten appointments will be announced in the coming months.
The candidates approved as High Court Judge judges are His Honour Judge Mark Wall, Her Honour Judge Mary Stacey, Nigel Poole QC, Charles Bourne QC, Rowena Collins Rice and Kelyn Bacon QC.
These appointments will fill vacancies in the High Court following elevations to the Court of Appeal and confirmed retirements. For further information regarding the number of applicants and number of recommended candidates, please see the Judicial Appointments Commission website: https://www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/high-court-judges-2020.
Appointments
Mark Wall
His Honour Judge Mark Arthur Wall, aged 57 will be known as The Honourable Mr Justice Wall. He was Called to the Bar (L) in 1985. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2002 and as a Circuit Judge in 2014 and authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge sitting in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2013.
He will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the elevation of Lord Justice Arnold.
The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mark Wall to the Queen’s Bench Division.
Mary Stacey
Her Honour Judge Mary Elizabeth Stacey, aged 59 will be known as The Honourable Mrs Justice Stacey. She was admitted to the Roll in 1987. She was appointed as a Fee-paid Judge of the Employment Tribunals in 1997, as an Employment Judge in in 2003, as a Circuit Judge in 2014 and as a Deputy High Court Judge sitting in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2018.
She will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the retirement of Mr Justice Supperstone.
The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mary Stacey to the Queen’s Bench Division.
Nigel Poole QC
Nigel Poole QC, aged 54 will be known as The Honourable Mr Justice Poole. He was Called to the Bar in 1989 and took Silk in 2012. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2009 and as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2017.
He will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the elevation of Lord Justice Baker.
The Lord Chief Justice will assign Nigel Poole to the Family Division.
Charles Bourne QC
Charles Gregory Bourne QC, aged 56 will be known as The Honourable Mr Justice Bourne. He was Called to the Bar (M) in 1991 and took Silk in 2014. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2009 and authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge sitting in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2016.
He will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the retirement of Lord Justice Simon.
The Lord Chief Justice will assign Charles Bourne QC to the Queen’s Bench Division.
Rowena Collins Rice
Rowena Collins Rice, aged 60 will be known as The Honourable Mrs Justice Collins Rice. She was Admitted to the Roll in 1995. She was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2017.
She will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the retirement of Lady Justice Rafferty.
The Lord Chief Justice will assign Rowena Collins Rice to the Queen’s Bench Division.
Kelyn Bacon QC
Kelyn Bacon QC, aged 46 will be known as The Honourable Mrs Justice Bacon. She was Called to the Bar (I) in 1998 and took Silk in 2014. She was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge sitting in the Chancery Division in 2017.
She will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the retirement of Mr Justice Barling.
The Lord Chief Justice will assign Kelyn Bacon QC to the Chancery Division.
Read more about the new appointments through their biographies here: