Justine Thornton QC Appointed To The High Court

Justine Thornton QC has been appointed as a High Court Judge, it has been announced today.

Justine will be known as The Honourable Mrs Justice Thornton and will take up appointment on 25th February 2019 consequential to the death of Mr Justice Gilbart. The Lord Chief Justice will assign Justine Thornton QC to the Queen's Bench Division.

Following her Call to the Bar in 1994, Justine worked for 9 years as a solicitor at two leading firms in London. She returned to the Bar in 2006 and joined 39 Essex Chambers specialising in environmental, planning and energy law. Justine took Silk in 2016 and was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2017. Justine became a Visiting Professor of Law at University College London Faculty of Law in 2015. On being appointed to the bench, Justine will step down from this position and become a Distinguished Judicial Visitor with the Faculty.

Justine Thornton QC says "It is a huge honour and privilege to have been appointed as a High Court judge.  A commitment to the rule of law is one of our country's proudest traditions. I look forward to serving the public by upholding justice on behalf of every citizen of our country."

Alison Foster QC, Joint Head of Chambers at 39 Essex Chambers says "Both personally and on behalf of all in Chambers, I could not be more delighted at Justine Thornton's appointment as a High Court Judge. Justine's achievements are inspirational for women in the legal profession. We wish her well and will miss her from Chambers, but recognise our loss is the Bench's gain."

Click here to view the announcement.