For the first time in the position’s lengthy history, which dates back to the 13th century, the highest ranking judge in England and Wales will be a woman.
Following Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett’s retirement at the end of September, Dame Sue Carr has been formally named Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales by the King. She will assume the position on October 1.
After receiving a recommendation from an impartial selection panel, the King appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Lord Chancellor, and Alex Chalk as Justice Secretary.
The Lord Chief Justice’s responsibility entails working with the Government to coordinate matters such as the allocation of resources to the judiciary. He or she is also in charge of the welfare, education, and direction of the judiciary as well as the placement of judges and the distribution of work among the courts.
58-year-old Lady Justice Carr began practicing law in 1987 and earned silk in 2003. Throughout her legal career, she held a variety of important positions, including those of complaints commissioner for the International Criminal Court in The Hague and chair of the Bar Standards Board conduct committee.
Before being named a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2020, she was appointed a Criminal Judge in 2009 and a High Court Judge in 2013.
Her appointment coincides with increased efforts to boost judicial diversity.
Lady Justice Carr studied law and contemporary languages at Trinity College in Cambridge and Wycombe Abbey School in Buckinghamshire. She is fluent in French and German.
She has three children, is married, and is an avid musician who plays the piano and sings with the Bar Choral Society.
The other candidate for the position was Lady Justice Carr, who is currently the president of the King’s Bench Division of the High Court. Dame Victoria Sharp.
