Retirement of the President of the Family Division, President of the Court of Protection and Head of Family Justice: The Right Honourable Sir Andrew McFarlane
The Right Honourable Sir Andrew Ewart McFarlane retires as President of the Family Division with effect from 14 April 2026.
Background information
Sir Andrew McFarlane was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1977, took silk in 1998 and was elected as a Bencher in 2003. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1995, a Recorder in 1999 and a Deputy High Court Judge in 2000. He was the Deputy Chancellor of the Diocese of Wakefield from 2004 to 2006 and has been Chancellor of the Diocese of Exeter since 2006. In April 2005 he was appointed a High Court Judge (Family Division) and was, for five years, the Family Division Liaison Judge for the Midland Circuit. He was the legal member of the Government ‘Family Justice Review’ Panel from 2010 to 2011.
Sir Andrew was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal and made a Privy Counsellor in 2011.
From 2014 to 2019 he was the President of Tribunals and Chair of the Clergy Discipline Commission of the Church of England under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003. He was a Member of the Family Procedure Rule Committee from 2016 to 2026.
On 28 July 2018 Sir Andrew McFarlane was appointed President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice.