The Inn is delighted to note the Judicial appointments of the following Gray’s Inn Members in March 2024.
Paul Hopkins KC
The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Baroness Carr Of Walton-On-The-Hill has appointed His Honour Judge Hopkins KC to be a Senior Circuit Judge, Designated Family Judge based at Cardiff Civil and Family Justice Centre, with effect from 2 April 2024.
Paul Hopkins KC will continue to be known as His Honour Judge Hopkins KC. He was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1989 and took Silk in 2009. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2005, as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Family Division, under section 9(4) of the Senior Courts Act 1981, in 2021 and as a Circuit Judge in 2023.
Find out more on the Judiciary website.
The Hon Mrs Justice Knowles
The Lady Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, has announced the appointment of two Family Presiding Judges.
Mrs Justice Knowles has been appointed for a period of four years, with effect from 7 March 2024, to the Northern Circuit where she will succeed Mr Justice MacDonald.
The Hon Mrs Justice Knowles was called to the Bar, Gray’s Inn, in 1993, and took Silk in 2011. She was appointed as a Tribunal Judge (Health, Education & Social Care Chamber) in 2007 and a High Court Judge (Family Division) in 2017. Family Presiding Judges play a key leadership role in the Family Courts in their respective Circuits and work closely with their fellow Presiding Judges.