The Rt Hon The Lord (John) Thomas of Cwmgiedd

Biography

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd studied Law at Trinity Hall 1966-69.  He was called to the Bar in 1969 (Gray’s Inn). He became a QC in 1984 and was appointed a Recorder in 1987. He practised as a member of the commercial chambers at 4 Essex Court in the Temple, which in 1994 moved to Lincoln’s Inn Fields and has since then been known as Essex Court Chambers. In January 1996, he was appointed a High Court Judge, receiving his knighthood, and was assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division, serving on the Commercial Court until his appointment to the Court of Appeal. In July 2003, he became a Lord Justice of Appeal and given the customary appointment to the Privy Council later that year. He served as the Senior Presiding Judge from 2003 to 2006, and President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary from 2008 to 2010. In October 2008, he was appointed Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice. In October 2011, he succeeded Sir Anthony May as President of the Queen’s Bench Division. He has been Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales since 2013. He became an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall in 2004.