Retirement of the President of the King’s Bench Division: The Right Honourable Dame Victoria Sharp DBE
RetirementPresident of the King's Bench DivisionKing's Bench Division
The Right Honourable Dame Victoria Madeleine Sharp DBE retires as President of the King’s Bench Division with effect from 1 October 2026.
Background information
Dame Victoria Sharp DBE read law at Bristol University, was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1979 and took silk in 2001. She was appointed as a Recorder in 1998, a Deputy High Court Judge in 2008 and a High Court Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division (now King’s Bench Division) in 2009.
Dame Victoria was the Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit from 2012 to 2013. She was appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal and made a Privy Counsellor in 2013.
In January 2016 she was appointed Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division and a Member of the Judicial Executive Board and Judges’ Council.
Dame Victoria was appointed President of the Queen’s Bench Division in June 2019 and is the first woman to hold the position. In February 2020 she was appointed as Deputy Head of Criminal Justice.