Appointments of the Designated Civil Judge for South Yorkshire, Designated Civil Judge for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, Designated Civil Judge for Bradford, and Designated Civil Judge for Essex.
Following an Expressions of Interest exercise, the Lady Chief Justice is pleased to announce the appointment of four Designated Civil Judges.
His Honour Judge Stephen Murch has been appointed as the Designated Civil Judge for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire with effect from 8 January 2024. Her Honour Judge Melissa Clarke will continue as the Designated Civil Judge for Thames Valley.
His Honour Judge Anesh Pema has been appointed as the Designated Civil Judge for Bradford with effect from 8 January 2024. His Honour Judge Mark Gosnell will continue as the Designated Civil Judge for Leeds.
His Honour Judge Robert Duddridge has been appointed as the Designated Civil Judge for Essex with effect from 8 January 2024. Her Honour Judge Karen Walden-Smith will continue as the Designated Civil Judge for East Anglia.
These appointments follow an ongoing review of Designated Civil Judge areas by the Master of the Rolls and Deputy Head of Civil Justice. These newly created roles will provide further civil judicial leadership capacity in these regions as part of a plan to increase the overall proportion of civil leadership posts across England & Wales.
His Honour Judge Guy Baddeley has been appointed as the Designated Civil Judge for South Yorkshire with effect from 8 January 2024.
The Lady Chief Justice wishes His Honour Judge Stephen Murch, His Honour Judge Anesh Pema, His Honour Judge Robert Duddridge and His Honour Judge Guy Baddeley well in their new roles.