Appointment of the new Deputy Head of Civil Justice
The Lady Chief Justice, following consultation with the Lord Chancellor, has appointed Mrs Justice Cockerill as the new Deputy Head of Civil Justice. Her appointment will take effect from 1 November 2025 and will be for a term of three years.
This follows the forthcoming appointment of Mrs Justice Cockerill to the Court of Appeal, which will take effect on 3 October 2025.
Lord Justice Birss will step down from the role on 31 October 2025, upon his appointment as Chancellor of the High Court.
Background
Mrs Justice Cockerill was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1990 and took silk in 2011. She specialised in commercial law from 1990 to 2017.
She was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2016, and a High Court Judge in the-then Queen’s Bench Division in 2017. From 2020 to 2022, she served as the Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court.