The King has approved the appointments of two of the country’s most senior judges, marking a significant change at the top of England and Wales’ judiciary.
Sir Colin Birss has been appointed Master of the Rolls, the second most senior judicial office in England and Wales after the Lady Chief Justice, while Lord Justice Warby will become the new President of the King’s Bench Division.
The appointments were made by The King on the advice of the Lord Chancellor following recommendations from independent selection panels chaired by the Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.
Sir Colin will succeed Sir Geoffrey Vos when he retires on 31 October after five years in office.
Called to the Bar in 1990, Sir Colin specialised in intellectual property law before taking silk in 2008. He began his judicial career in 2009 as Deputy Chair of the Copyright Tribunal and currently serves as Chancellor of the High Court. In 2023, he was appointed the judiciary’s lead judge for artificial intelligence, reflecting his expertise in technology and digital innovation.
Welcoming the appointment, Baroness Carr said: “I am delighted that, today, the King has appointed Sir Colin Birss as the Master of the Rolls.
“His judicial and leadership experience, alongside his technological and digital expertise, make him ideally placed to take on this important role.”
Meanwhile, Lord Justice Warby will replace Dame Victoria Sharp as President of the King’s Bench Division following her retirement later this year.
Called to the Bar in 1981, Lord Justice Warby became a King’s Counsel in 2002 before serving as a Recorder and later being appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2021. He also served as Vice Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission between 2023 and 2026.
Baroness Carr praised his appointment, saying: “Lord Justice Warby has extensive experience in this jurisdiction as the judge in charge of the Media and Communications List, Director of Training for the Senior Judiciary, and former Chair of the High Court Judges’ Association.
“He takes up the role at a time of change… and will be able to draw upon his leadership expertise to ensure that the judges of the King’s Bench Division continue to uphold the rule of law and deliver timely and fair resolution of the disputes that they decide.”
The appointments continue a period of significant change within the senior judiciary, following the recent appointment of Lord Justice Cobb as President of the Family Division.
The King’s constitutional role also extended beyond the courts on Thursday with the approval of Fiona Cannon OBE as the new Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Beginning a five-year, non-renewable term, Ms Cannon will oversee the regulation of appointments made by UK Government ministers and the Welsh Government to the boards of public bodies, ensuring recruitment processes remain fair, transparent and robust.
The appointment follows endorsement by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee and succeeds Sir William Shawcross, whose term comes to an end this month. Fiona Cannon, currently Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Yorkshire Building Society, was awarded an OBE for services to equal opportunities and has previously served on the FTSE Women Leaders Review.
