New President of the King's Bench Division sworn in

The Royal Courts of Justice witnessed the swearing-in of Sir Mark Warby as the new President of the King’s Bench Division (KBD) on Monday, 5 October. At a formal ceremony, he was sworn in by the Lady Chief Justice, marking a significant moment in his distinguished legal career. The position of President, created in 2005, comes with the responsibility of overseeing the various courts and lists within the KBD, along with managing the deployment of judges in the Division.

In her address during the ceremony, the Lady Chief Justice spoke highly of Sir Mark’s capabilities, stating “Leading the King’s Bench Division is no easy task. As the largest division of the High Court with an immense range of challenging and high-profile work, any leader must be agile, determined and open-minded. I know… that these are traits which Mark has in abundance.” She expressed confidence in his leadership, suggesting that he would bring a unique blend of qualities to the role.

Responding to this confidence, Sir Mark reflected on his new role by saying, “It is a great privilege to be sworn in today as President of the King’s Bench Division. I look forward to leading the judges of the Division, who decide important cases in a wide range of legal areas, including administrative law (such as judicial reviews of public bodies), planning, media and communications disputes, and some of the most high-profile and complex criminal trials and appeals.” He emphasised his commitment to ensuring that cases are resolved fairly and efficiently while upholding the essential principle of the rule of law.

Sir Mark Warby’s legal experience is extensive. He was called to the Bar in 1981, took Silk in 2002, became a Recorder in 2009, and served as a Deputy High Court Judge starting in 2013. He was appointed a High Court Judge assigned to the KBD in 2014, and in 2021, he took on the role of Judge of the Court of Appeal. He also has notable leadership experience, having served as Vice-Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission between 2023 and 2026. Sir Mark succeeds Dame Victoria Sharp as President, stepping into a role that has significant influence within the UK’s judicial system.