Category: Appointments
Appointment of High Court Judge: Aidan Eardley
The King is pleased to approve the appointment of a Justice of the High Court. This appointment will take effect from 1 October 2026.
New Appointments of High Court Judges
The King is pleased to approve the following appointments of Justices of the High Court.
Lynne Berry CBE appointed as Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission
Lynne Berry CBE has been appointed as lay Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), following approval by His Majesty The King.
Appointment of Master of the Rolls and President of the King’s Bench Division
His Majesty King Charles III has been pleased to approve the appointment of Sir Colin Birss as the Master of the Rolls, and The Rt Hon Lord Justice Warby as the President of the King's Bench Division.
Appointment of new Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal
The JAC, at the request of the Lord Chancellor, assisted the Lady Chief Justice in the selection of 7 new judges for the Court of Appeal.
Appointment of the President of the Family Division
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Stephen Cobb has been appointed as the President of the Family Division.
Appointment of Senior Judicial Commissioner – Lord Justice Dove
His Majesty The King has approved the appointment of The Right Honourable Lord Justice Dove as a Senior Judicial Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) for 3 years commencing 1 March 2026.
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.
Master of the Rolls – March 2026
The Lord Chancellor has asked the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to convene a selection panel to recommend a new Master of the Rolls as successor to Sir Geoffrey Vos, who is retiring at the end of October 2026.
Recruitment of new JAC Chair
Work has begun to recruit a new Chair, who will continue to drive the JAC forward to deliver the priorities outlined in our Business Strategy and uphold our statutory duties.