The Inn is delighted to note the Judicial appointment of the following Gray’s Inn Members in January 2026.
Tony Harking
His Majesty the King, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, has approved the appointment of Tony Harking to the Judicial Appointments Commission.
Tony Harking was commissioned into the Royal Engineers and served for 35 years in a wide variety of roles and Theatres including the Gurkhas. He then spent 5 years in Industry working on training projects before spending 6 years as the Under Treasurer(Chief Executive) of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn.
Find out more on the Judiciary website.
Paul Mason
The King has appointed Paul Mason to be a Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable David Lammy MP, and the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.
The Lady Chief Justice has deployed him to the Northern Circuit, based at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square, with effect from 2 February 2026.
Paul Mason will be known as His Honour Judge Paul Mason. He was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 2011. He was appointed as a Fee-paid Employment Judge, and a Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Health, Education and Social Care Chamber, in 2021.
Find out more on the Judiciary website.
Alistair David Redford
The Senior President of Tribunals, the Right Honourable Lord Justice Dingemans has appointed Alistair David Redford to be a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber, with effect from 16 February 2026.
Alistair David Redford will be known as Tribunal Judge Redford. He was called to the bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1995. He was appointed as a Fee-paid First-tier Tribunal Judge in November 2019.
Find out more on the Judiciary website.
Robert Cline
The Senior President of Tribunals, the Right Honourable Lord Justice Dingemans has appointed Robert Cline to be a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, assigned to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber (Mental Health), with effect from 2 February 2026.
Robert Cline will be known as Tribunal Judge Cline. He was called to the bar (Gray’s Inn) in 2002. He was appointed as a Fee-paid Employment Judge in October 2021, and as a Fee-paid First-tier Tribunal Judge in November 2021.
Find out more on the Judiciary website.
Matthew McNiff
The Senior President of Tribunals, the Right Honourable Lord Justice Dingemans has appointed Matthew McNiff to be a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, assigned to the Social Entitlement Chamber, with effect from 2 February 2026.
Matthew McNiff will be known as Tribunal Judge M McNiff. He was called to the bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1992. He was appointed as a Fee-paid First-tier Tribunal Judge in 2019.