Judiciary of England and Wales

[3][4][5] The following is a list of the various types of judges who sit in the Courts of England and Wales:[6] Since 3 April 2006, the Lord Chief Justice has been the overall head of the judiciary.

Historically they were also President of the King's Bench Division of the High Court, but on becoming head of the judiciary that responsibility was transferred to a new office.

The Lord Chief Justice is responsible for arranging training for the judiciary, which is achieved through the Judicial College.

Ceremonially, the Lord Chief Justice wears the red robe with white trim along with a gold chain and full wig.

[12] In practice, much greater experience was necessary and, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed[13][14] so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential Lord Justice of Appeal must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.

For ceremonial occasions, they wear the full wig and black damask gown with gold lace.

Ceremonially, all High Court justices wear the red gown with white trim along with a full wig.

Each division has a Senior Master, and each division has a different title: The Senior Master of the King's Bench Division also holds the ancient judicial post of King's Remembrancer (Queen's Remembrancer when the monarch is female), and is also the Registrar of Election petitions and Foreign judgements as well as being the designated authority for the Hague Service Convention and Hague Evidence Convention and receiving agency under the EU Service Regulation – Council Regulation (EC) No.

The Senior Master is assisted in this role as Central Authority by the Foreign Process Section of the King's Bench Action Department at the Royal Courts of Justice.

They also hear appeals from district judges of the County Court in the south east region in company law and corporate insolvency matters.

However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential Master or ICC Judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a five-year basis.

Senior circuit judges who sit as the honorary recorder of a borough or city are also entitled to be addressed in court as "my lord/lady."

[22] However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed[13][14] so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential circuit judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a seven-year basis.

Circuit judges sitting in civil proceedings no longer wear wigs, wing collars, or bands.

[23] However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed[13][14] so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential recorder must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a seven-year basis.

However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed[13][14] so that, since 21 July 2008, a potential district judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a five-year basis.

However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed[13][14] so that, since 21 July 2008, a potential deputy district judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a five-year basis[15] and so that other types of lawyer, such as chartered legal executives (CILEX Fellows), would be eligible.

In August 2010, Ian Ashley-Smith became the first CILEx Fellow to be directly appointed as a deputy district judge (civil).

Within this tribunal, there are three panel judges, one will be a legally qualified lawyer, whilst the other two are drawn from the mental health professions, such as social work, nursing or psychology, these are known as Specialist Lay Members.

Also unlike their magistrate counterparts, these members are recruited in the same manner as other judges via the Judicial Appointments Commission.

The following is a simplified list of annual judicial salaries from 1 April 2024, showing only the most widely-held grades and some of the best known specific appointments.

[29] Judges also have a pension scheme, the 1993 and earlier versions of which were once considered to be one of the most generous in the British public sector.