New Senior President of Tribunals, Lord Justice James Dingemans, is sworn in
The new Senior President of Tribunals, Sir James Dingemans, was sworn in, by the Lady Chief Justice, at a ceremony in the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday 2 October.
The Senior President of Tribunals is the independent and statutory leader of all judicial office holders in the First-tier Tribunal, Employment Tribunals, Upper Tribunal, and Employment Appeal Tribunal.
Just as the Lady Chief Justice heads the judiciary in England and Wales, the Senior President heads the tribunals judiciary, although his responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland depending on the jurisdiction concerned.
Speeches were made in recognition of his appointment by the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill and Howard Stevens KC, Head of Chambers at 3 Hare Court, representing the Bar of England and Wales.
In her speech, the Lady Chief Justice said:
“Criminal justice usually gets the headlines, but I often reflect that the majority of citizens rely on our civil and family courts, and indeed our Tribunals, to deliver justice. The work in the many and varied jurisdictions of the Tribunals lies at the core of the everyday lives of people in all corners of the UK.
“Their accessibility is vital in realising the fundamental principle of equality before the law, ensuring that every individual holds the same weight as the state, their local authority, or employer. Without the 5,000 tribunal judges under his leadership, our justice system would not be complete.”
Howard Stevens KC said:
“It is a role that would daunt most but one you have embraced with the infectious enthusiasm, energy, efficiency and strong sense of public service you bring to bear in all you do; and which you will perform, I know, with the patience, empathy, kindness and courtesy for which you are well known… on behalf of the Bar, I wish you the very best in this new chapter of your judicial career.”
Lord Justice Dingemans said:
“It is a great privilege to be sworn in as Senior President of Tribunals. The tribunals hear cases in matters of great importance to all of us in areas from tax to employment, and immigration and asylum to social security. I very much look forward to working with the judges and members of each Tribunal jurisdiction as we seek to uphold the rule of law, and decide fairly all the disputes which come before the Tribunals.”
Lord Justice Dingemans was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1987 and took Silk in 2002. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2002, authorised to hear cases under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in the King’s Bench division in 2010 and a High Court Judge in 2013. He was a Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit between 2015 and 2018 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2019. He served as Vice President of the King’s Bench Division between 2020 and 2025, and as lead judge for international relations for the judiciary between 2021 and 2025. He succeeds Sir Keith Lindbolm.