President of the King’s Bench Division – March 2026

The Lord Chancellor has asked the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to convene a selection panel to recommend a new President of the King’s Bench Division as successor to Dame Victoria Sharp, who is retiring in October 2026.

The exercise is expected to launch in March 2026, and anyone interested in making an application should contact the JAC’s Head of Senior Appointments, Lisa Grant, for further information on the eligibility and selection criteria as well as the documentation required to make an application.

Candidates are expected to be of outstanding legal ability and save in exceptional circumstances, have sufficient directly relevant previous judicial experience, namely experience of sitting as a judge in a higher court.

If you are interested in making an application, please send an email to PKBD2026@judicialappointments.gov.uk in order to request an information pack. 

All enquiries are dealt with in the strictest confidence.