New Presiding Judges Appointed
The Lady Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, has announced the appointment of three Presiding Judges.
Mr Justice Cotter has been appointed to the North Eastern Circuit where he will succeed Mrs Justice Lambert.
Mr Justice Linden has been appointed to the Western Circuit where he will succeed Mrs Justice Cutts.
Mrs Justice Thornton has been appointed to the South Eastern Circuit where she will succeed Mr Justice Cavanagh.
The appointments are made from 1 January 2025, when the current Presiding Judges step down, to 31 December 2028.
Background notes
Mr Justice Barry Cotter was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1985 and took silk in 2006. He was appointed a Recorder in 2002, a Circuit Judge and Deputy High Court Judge in 2010 and a High Court Judge in January 2018.
Mr Justice Thomas Linden wascalled to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1989 and took silk in 2006. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2005, a Deputy High Court Judge in 2019 and a High Court Judge in January 2020.
Mrs Justice Justine Thornton was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1994 and took silk in 2016. She was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2017, and a High Court Judge in February 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.