Family Division Liaison Judges

AppointmentLiaison JudgeLondonSouth EasternWales

The President of the Family Division, following consultation with the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice, has announced the following appointments. Each appointment will be for a period of four years, with effect from Monday 13 February 2023:

  • Mr Justice Keehan has been appointed as Senior Family Division Liaison Judge; he has succeeded Mrs Justice Theis.
  • Mr Justice Francis has been appointed as Family Division Liaison Judge for London; he has succeeded Mr Justice Keehan.
  • Mrs Justice Morgan has been appointed as Family Division Liaison Judge for the Wales Circuit; she has succeeded Mr Justice Francis.

In addition, the President is pleased to announce that Mrs Justice Arbuthnot has been appointed as Family Division Liaison Judge for the South Eastern Circuit (Beds, Herts, Cambs, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex). She will succeed Mr Justice Newton. This appointment will also be for a period of four years, with effect from 18 April 2023.

Background

The Hon Mr Justice Keehan was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in 1982, and took Silk in 2001. He was appointed a Recorder in 1999, a Deputy High Court Judge in 2003, and a High Court Judge (Family Division) in 2013. He was appointed Family Division Liaison Judge for the Midlands Circuit in October 2014 and became the Family Division Liaison Judge for London in 2020.

The Hon Mr Justice Francis was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, in 1981 and took Silk in 2002. He was appointed as a Recorder in 1999, as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2011, and as a High Court Judge (Family Division) in 2016. He was appointed Family Division Liaison Judge for the Wales Circuit in 2017.

The Hon Mrs Justice Morgan was called to the Bar, Gray’s Inn, in 1988 and took Silk in 2011. She was appointed as a Recorder in 2009, as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2019, and as a High Court Judge (Family Division) in 2022.

The Hon Mrs Justice Arbuthnot was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, in 1986. She was appointed as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) in 1999, a Recorder (Crime) in 2001, a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) in 2005, as the Deputy Senior District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) in 2012, a Recorder (Family) in 2015, the Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) in 2016, and as a High Court Judge (Family Division) in 2021. She is a bencher of the Inner Temple.