Electing Judges? & and some new (appointed) High Court judges announced...

Have been sunning myself in the States.  Imagine if a leader column like this appeared in The Times, rather than its New York cousin - or even in the Evening Standard commenting on the merits or lack of them of those who desired judicial office within the local county courts of London!  Vote to fill vacancies arising among the District and Circuit Judges of the Central London County Court, or the Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court!...now that would be a thing to behold....

In the meantime, we less democratic in our ways of appointing judges have sent a few more of our learned, leading and distinguished friends to the High Court bench:

SARAH ASPLIN QC

Chancery specialist from 3 Stone Buildings and a welcome female addition to the Rolls Building.....

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Miss Sarah Jane Asplin, Q.C., to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 1 October 2012 on the retirement of Mr Justice Calvert-Smith.

The Lord Chief Justice will assign Miss Asplin to the Chancery Division.
Miss Asplin, 53, was called to the Bar by the Gray’s Inn in 1984 and took Silk in 2002. She is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge.

Mr. Justice Calvert-Smith was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1969 and took Silk in 1997. He was appointed a Recorder in 1986 and a judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in 2002.

JEREMEY STUART-SMITH QC

An old-fashioned common law commercial QC who did Trigger in the Supreme Court, and eldest son of the Stuart-Smith LJ deceased retired, married to the daughter of 2nd Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, who led 4 New Square through its recent difficult period....

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Jeremy Hugh Stuart-Smith, Esq., Q.C., to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 2 October 2012 on the retirement of Mr. Justice Butterfield.

The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mr. Stuart-Smith to the Queen’s Bench Division.
Mr. Stuart-Smith, 57, was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1978 and took Silk in 1997. He was appointed a Recorder in 1999 and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge.

Mr. Justice Butterfield was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1965 and took Silk in 1985. He was appointed a Recorder in 1978 and a judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in 1995.

STEPHEN MALES QC


Heavy commercial silk from 20 Essex Street....

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Stephen Martin Males, Esq., Q.C., to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 1 October 2012 on the elevation of Mr Justice Treacy to the Court of Appeal.

The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mr. Males to the Queen’s Bench Division.
Mr. Males, 56, was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1978 and took Silk in 1998. He was appointed a Recorder in 1999 and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge.

Mr. Justice Treacy was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1971 and took Silk in 1990. He was appointed a Recorder in 1991 and a judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in 2002.

NB - THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR MURRAY STUART-SMITH KCMG IS NOT DECEASED AS WAS SUGGESTED ABOVE - IN FACT HE WAS RE-KNIGHTED ONLY THIS YEAR WITH A KCMG FOR SERVICES RENDERED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL OF GIBRALTAR...MY APOLOGIES

Sir Murray was replaced by Sir Paul Kennedy as P of C of A of Gibraltar in January - here is being sworn in by the Governor...