July 27, 2026

New Presiding Judges Appointed

Appointment Presiding Judge North Eastern Northern South Eastern Western

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

Ms Justice Norton has been appointed to the South Eastern Circuit where she will succeed Mr Justice Johnson.

Mrs Justice Eady has been appointed to the North Eastern Circuit where she will succeed Mr Justice Hilliard.

Mr Justice Dias has been appointed to the Northern Circuit where he will succeed Mr Justice Goose.

Mrs Justice Brunner has been appointed to the Western Circuit where she will succeed Mr Justice Saini

The appointments are made from 1 January 2027, when the current Presiding Judges step down, to 31 December 2030. This is with the exception of Mrs Justice Brunner, whose appointment is from 1 December 2026 – the date on which Mr Justice Saini will be appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal – to 31 December 2030.

Background notes:

Ms Justice Heather Norton was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1988. She was appointed as a Recorder in 2007, a Circuit Judge in 2012 and a High Court Judge in 2025. She has served as a Resident Judge and is currently the Judicial Lead on Youth Justice for England and Wales.

Mrs Justice Jennifer Eady was called to the Bar in 1989 and took silk in 2006. She sat as a fee-paid Employment Judge from 2001, was appointed as a Recorder in 2004, a Senior Circuit Judge of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in 2013 and a High Court Judge in 2019. She served as President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal from 2022 and has held a number of senior judicial leadership positions.

Mr Justice Dexter Dias was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1988 and took silk in 2009. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2012, a Deputy High Court Judge in 2021 and a High Court Judge in 2024. Prior to his judicial appointment, he practised extensively in human rights, public and criminal law.

Mrs Justice Kate Brunner was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1997 and took silk in 2015. She was appointed as a Recorder in 2012, a Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge in 2014 and a High Court Judge in 2025. Prior to her appointment to the Bench, she practised in criminal and regulatory law and served as Leader of the Western Circuit between 2019 and 2022.