CHANGES AT THE TOP & AND NEW HIGH COURT JUDGE

From January 2016, Mr Justice Cranston will succeed Mr Justice Ouseley as Judge in Charge of the Administrative Court.Cranston was once Solicitor-General under Blair and now he is in charge of holding HMG to account.  He has some big shoes to fill following the awesome Ouseley J.

From January 2016, Mr Justice Coulson will assume responsibility as the Administrative Court Liaison Judge for the Western and Midland Circuits. Slightly suprising as a TCC/construction specliaist....

From January 2016, Mr Justice Lewis will assume responsibility as the Administrative Court Liaison Judge for Wales. Not at all surprising that this former public law specialist and former Standing Counsel to the NAW gets this job....

From November 2015, Mrs Justice Patterson will succeed Lord Justice Lindblom as Planning Liaison Judge.  This is also to be expected given My Lady's experience and previous professional life....

IN OTHER NEWS

Lord Justice Aikens retires as Lord Justice of Appeal with effect from 2 November 2015

Sir Richard John Pearson Aikens (67) was called to the Bar (M) in 1973, took Silk in 1986 and elected a Bencher in 1994. He was Junior Counsel to the Crown, Common Law, from 1981 to 1986, a Member of the Supreme Court Rules Committee from 1984 to 1988, appointed a Recorder in 1993, a deputy Judge of the High Court (Queen’s Bench and Chancery Division) in 1998 and a Judge of the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) in 1999. He was appointed Presiding Judge for the South East Circuit from 2001 to 2004, Judge in charge of the Commercial Court from 2005 to 2006 and a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008, when he was sworn as a Privy Councillor.

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Neil Stephen Garnham Esq QC to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 3 November 2015 on the elevation of Mr. Justice Lindblom to the Court of Appeal.

This is expected given his track record at public inquiries and high profile inquests.....,

The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mr Garnham to the Queen’s Bench Division

Mr Garnham, 56, was called to the Bar (M) in 1982 and took Silk in 2001. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1999, as a Recorder in 2000 and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge.

Mr Justice Lindblom was called to the Bar (G) in 1980 and took Silk in 1996. He was appointed a Recorder in 2001 and a judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in 2010.