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  • 03/06/2022

    Circuit Bench Retirement: Moir

    Her Honour Judge Judith Patricia Moir retires as a Circuit Judge with effect from 2 June 2022. Background information Her Honour Judge Moir (67) was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1978. She was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1993, a Recorder in 1997 and a Circuit Judge in 1999. She was appointed a […]

  • 03/06/2022

    Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) Retirement: Birbeck

    Judge Judith Hilary Birbeck retires with effect from 1 June 2022.  Background information  Judge Birbeck (67) was admitted as a Solicitor in 1979. She was appointed a Legally Qualified Panel Member of Appeal Tribunals in 1999 and a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Social Entitlement Chamber (Social Security and Child Support) in 2011.

  • 03/06/2022

    The Queen on Judges and the Rule of Law

    As part of its broadcasts to mark the 70 years of the monarch’s reign, the BBC’s Today programme on Radio 4 played a recording of Queen Elizabeth in 1968 speaking at the opening of the Queen’s Building extension to the Royal Courts of Justice in 1968.  – on the importance of the judiciary. Her Majesty […]

  • 02/06/2022

    District Bench Retirement: Nichols

    District Judge Stephen Mark Nichols retires from the District Bench with effect from 1 June 2022.  Background information  District Judge Nichols (66) was admitted as a Solicitor in 1985. He was appointed a Deputy District Judge in 2001 and a District Judge in 2014.

  • 02/06/2022

    Proposals for new sentencing guidelines for underage sale of knives published

    The Sentencing Council has published two draft sentencing guidelines (external link) for sentencing retailers convicted of selling knives to children in England and Wales for consultation. The two guidelines – one for sentencing organisations and one for sentencing individuals –will apply to retailers who fail to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place to prevent […]

  • 01/06/2022

    His Honour Judge Stephen Davies

    Stephen Davies is a Circuit Judge based in Manchester. He is authorised to sit in the Queen’s Bench Division and Administrative Court (including planning work) and also sits as a Crown Court and Upper Tribunal Judge. His Honour Judge Davies attended state schools in Lancashire before studying law at Cambridge, after which he qualified as […]

  • 01/06/2022

    His Honour Judge Sephton QC

    Craig Sephton QC is a Circuit Judge based in the Manchester Civil Justice Centre. He is authorised to sit in the Queen’s Bench Division and the Administrative Court. His Honour Judge Sephton was brought up in Derbyshire and was educated in local state schools before studying at Oxford. He was called to the Bar in […]

  • 01/06/2022

    His Honour Judge Saffman

    Andrew Saffman is a Circuit Judge based at the Leeds Combined Court Centre. He is authorised to sit in the High Court and the Administrative Court. His Honour Judge Saffman was admitted as a solicitor in 1977 and, prior to his appointment as a District Judge in 2001, he was a partner specialising in commercial […]

  • 01/06/2022

    Upper Tribunal Judge Plimmer

    Melanie Plimmer is an Upper Tribunal Judge based in Manchester. She is authorised to sit in the High Court (Family Division, Queen’s Bench Division and Administrative Court). Upper Tribunal Judge Plimmer was born and educated in Trinidad and Tobago before attending Bristol University.  She was a barrister specialising in public law and is now a […]

  • 01/06/2022

    His Honour Judge Pearce

    Richard Pearce is the Judge in charge of the Circuit Commercial Court in Manchester. He sits in the Business and Property Courts in Manchester, Liverpool and London as well as in the Administrative Court, the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber and the Queen’s Bench Division. His Honour Judge Pearce grew up in Staffordshire and […]