High Court of Justice - Judges

Judges

Main article: High Court judge See also: List of High Court Judges of England and Wales

The Justices of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice are informally known as "High Court judges", and in judicial matters are formally styled "The Honourable Mr(s). Justice (Forename) Surname", abbreviated in writing to "Surname J." In Court they are properly addressed as "My Lord", often pronounced M'lud. Since by convention they are knighted upon appointment, socially they are addressed as Sir Forename or Dame Forename, without the prefix "The Hon." which is given only to their office. High Court Judges are sometimes referred to as "red judges" after the colour of their formal robes, in contrast to the junior Circuit Judges who are referred to as "purple judges" for the same reason.

High Court judges are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of Judicial Appointments Commission, from qualified lawyers. HM Government is statutorily required to respect the principle of judicial independence, and both Houses of Parliament have Standing Orders to similar effect. High Court Judges may be removed before their statutory retirement age only by a procedure requiring the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

In addition to full High Court judges, other qualified persons such as retired judges, Circuit Judges and senior Queen's Counsel are individually authorised to sit as Deputy Judges of the High Court to hear particular cases, and while sitting are addressed as though they were full justices. Much judicial work concerned with procedural or non-contentious matters and certain trials are conducted by junior judges known (whether male or female) as "Masters of the High Court".

High Court judges also sit in the Crown Court, which try the more significant criminal cases, but High Court Judges only hear the most serious and important cases, with Circuit Judges and Recorders hearing the majority.

Read more about this topic:  High Court Of Justice

Famous quotes containing the word judges:

    “The World is not enough used to this way of writing, to the moment. It knows not that in the minutiae lie often the unfoldings of the Story, as well as of the heart; and judges of an action undecided, as if it were absolutely decided.”
    —Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)

    “Let judges secretly despair of justice: their verdicts will be more acute. Let generals secretly despair of triumph; killing will be defamed. Let priests secretly despair of faith: their compassion will be true.”
    —Leonard Cohen (b. 1934)

    “The world, the wise world, that never is wrong itself, judges always by events. And if he should use me ill, then I shall be blamed for trusting him: if well, O then I did right, to be sure!—But how would my censurers act in my case, before the event justifies or condemns the action, is the question.”
    —Samuel Richardson (1689–1761)