Sir Colin Birss will become the next master of the rolls, succeeding Sir Geoffrey Vos, who retires at the end of October after five years in the role. The king announced the appointment on the advice of the lord chancellor, following a recommendation from an independent selection panel led by the lady chief justice.
Birss, currently the chancellor of the High Court, has spent much of his career in intellectual property law. Called to the bar in 1990, he took silk in 2008 and began his judicial career as a deputy chair of the Copyright Tribunal in 2009. His recent role as lead judge for artificial intelligence indicates the judiciary will continue prioritizing technology under his leadership.
Birss brings judicial and tech experience to the role
The lady chief justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, said the appointment reflects his “judicial and leadership experience, alongside his technological and digital expertise.” The master of the rolls is the second-most senior judicial position in England and Wales, overseeing civil justice and serving as head of the Court of Appeal’s civil division.
His promotion comes as courts address the implications of AI in legal proceedings, an issue he has already begun tackling in his current role.
Warby takes over King’s Bench Division amid structural shifts
Lord Justice Warby will become the new president of the King’s Bench Division, replacing Dame Victoria Sharp, who retires in October. Warby, a Court of Appeal judge since 2021, previously led the media and communications list and served as director of training for the senior judiciary.
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The lady chief justice described him as a leader with “extensive experience” in the jurisdiction, noting his roles as former chair of the High Court Judges’ Association and vice chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission. His appointment coincides with the creation of the Business and Property Division, a structural change requiring coordination across the High Court’s largest division.
Warby was called to the bar in 1981 and took silk in 2002. He was appointed as a recorder in 2009 and served as the vice chair of the JAC between 2023 and 2026. The King’s Bench Division handles civil and criminal matters, including serious fraud, personal injury, and judicial reviews.
A selection panel that included Lord Sales, deputy president of the Supreme Court, and commissioners from the Judicial Appointments Commission, chose both judges. The process highlights the importance of legal expertise and administrative leadership as courts adapt to technological and procedural changes.
Birss and Warby join Lord Justice Cobb, who took over as president of the Family Division in April following Sir Andrew McFarlane’s retirement. Their appointments mark a generational shift in the senior judiciary, with each bringing specialized knowledge to their roles.
These changes arrive as the judiciary faces growing pressure to address efficiency and accessibility in the legal system.
