New Lord Chief Justice takes up post

Sir Igor replaces The Right Honourable The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers in the role, following his appointment as senior Law Lord.

The role sees Sir Judge take responsibility for representing the views of the judiciary of England and Wales to parliament and government, as well as overseeing the deployment of judges and allocation of work in courts in England and Wales.

Lord Phillips was appointed in October 2005, succeeding Lord Woolf. From October 2009 he will also take up the role of president of the Supreme Court of the UK.

Lord Phillips said: "I can think of no-one better suited than Sir Igor to take on the responsibilities of the post. His excellent leadership qualities, displayed in senior judicial posts over the past decade, will stand him, and all judges, in great stead when he takes over from me as head of the judiciary on 1 October. "

Sir Judge said: "Like Lord Phillips, I am utterly committed to the principle of judicial independence. The principle is deeply imbedded in our history and our culture and, in the public interest, it must not be undermined or damaged inadvertently or by neglect."

The role took its current guise in April 2006 when the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 came into force. Under the changes the Lord Chief Justice became head of the judiciary of England and Wales, a role previously held by the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chief Justice is also president of the Courts of England and Wales.

In a related move, The Honourable Mr Justice Jackson and The Honourable Mr Justice Goldring have been appointed as Lord Justices of Appeal. Meanwhile, The Honourable Mr Justice Aikens has been appointed as a Lord Justice of Appeal upon the retirement of Lord Justice Gage, with effect from 19 November, 2008.