Romer was born in Crawley, Sussex, the second son of Sir Robert Romer, later a Lord Justice of Appeal, and Betty, née Lemon, daughter of Mark Lemon, founding editor of Punch.

He was educated at Rugby and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he read Mathematics, graduating as a junior optime.

Practicing at the Chancery bar, he was made a King's Counsel in 1906 and attached himself to the court of Mr Justice Parker, then that of Mr Justice Sargant when Parker was elevated to the House of Lords.

Romer was appointed a judge of the Chancery Division of the High Court in 1922, in succession to Sir Arthur Frederick Peterson, and received the customary knighthood the same year.

His son, Sir Charles Romer, was appointed to the Chancery Division two months after his death, following in the steps of both his father and grandfather.