August 16, 2022

New Presiding Judges Appointed

Appointment Presiding Judge Circuit Bench North Eastern South Eastern Western

The Lord Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, has announced the appointment of three Presiding Judges.

Mr Justice Bennathan has been appointed to the South Eastern Circuit where he will succeed Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.

Mr Justice Hilliard has been appointed to the North Eastern Circuit where he will succeed Mr Justice Lavender.

Mr Justice Saini has been appointed to the Western Circuit where he will succeed Mr Justice Garnham.

The appointments are made from 1 January 2023, when the current Presiding Judges step down, to 31 December 2026.

Background notes

Mr Justice Joel Bennathan was called to the Bar in 1985 (Middle Temple) and took silk in 2006. He was appointed a Recorder in 2009 and a High Court Judge in January 2022.

Mr Justice Nicholas Hilliard was called to the Bar in 1981 (Middle Temple) and took silk in 2008. He was appointed a Recorder in 2000, a Senior Circuit Judge in 2012, the Common Serjeant in 2013 and as the Recorder of London in 2015. He was appointed to the High Court in 2019.

Mr Justice Pushpinder Saini was called to the Bar in 1991 (Gray’s Inn) and took silk in 2008. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2017 and a High Court Judge in 2019.

Presiding Judges are responsible for the deployment of the judiciary and allocation of cases on their Circuit. They also have a responsibility for general supervision of judges on their circuits.