James Munby
| The Right Honourable Sir James Munby | |
|---|---|
| President of the Family Division | |
|
Assumed office 11 January 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Nicholas Wall |
| Lord Justice of Appeal | |
|
In office 12 October 2009 – 11 January 2013 | |
| Nominated by |
Gordon Brown as Prime Minister |
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 July 1948 |
| Education | Magdalen College School |
| Alma mater | Wadham College, Oxford |
Sir James Lawrence Munby (born 27 July 1948) is an English judge who is President of the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales.
Early life
Munby was born on 27 July 1948. He was educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford and Wadham College, Oxford, which he is an Honorary Fellow.[1]
Legal career
Munby was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1971 and practised as a barrister at New Square Chambers.[2] He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988 and as a High Court Judge on 2 October 2000, assigned to the Family Division and authorised to sit in the Administrative Court.
Munby was appointed as Chairman of the Law Commission on 1 August 2009, replacing Lord Justice Etherton.[3] On 12 October of that year, he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal, receiving the customary appointment to the Privy Council. His term as Chairman of the Law Commission expired in August 2012. On 11 January 2013, he succeeded Sir Nicholas Wall as President of the Family Division.[4]
Spencer divorce
Munby was the presiding judge when Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer divorced his second wife, Carolyn Freud. Spencer's barrister Nicholas Mostyn advised his client that the case could be heard in private, which Munby rejected. The Earl was upset at the final settlement. The Earl later unsuccessfully sued Mostyn.[5][6]
Important changes and decisions
- Munby instituted procedural changes which led to hearings in family courts being open to the public, save where a judge decides otherwise.
- A twelve year old Slovak boy who was on the way for a forced adoption (without parental consent). He decided that the child will live with his Slovak aunt. The judgment in detail. Also the mother was allowed to talk in public about her case opposite to the existing gagging orders.
- Decision in reduction in forced adoptions
- Equal representation (Litigants in Person vs Public Funding) – Fair Trial. "Each is a private law case in which a father is seeking to play a role in the life of his child, who lives with the mother." lapso-q-v-q-munby1
References
- ↑ Hough, Andrew (1 March 2011). "Foster parent ban: Lord Justice Munby 'avid supporter of open justice'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ↑ "Members". New Square Chambers. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
- ↑ "New chairman of Law Commission appointed by Lord Chancellor". The Department of Justice. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
- ↑ Number10.gov.uk (20 December 2012). "Appointment of President of the Family Division" (Press release). Judiciary of England and Wales. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
- ↑ Maev Kennedy (25 July 2010). "And these little piggies ... were named after a high court judge". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
- ↑ Fay Schlesinger (25 July 2010). "The bizarre case of Earl Spencer, his divorce lawyer...and seven little piggies". Daily Mail. Retrieved 19 December 2010.