The Ministry of Justice has announced the appointment of five new high court judges, including the first Sikh to be appointed to the High Court bench.

Matrix Chambers’ Rabinder Singh QC (pictured) will become the first Sikh judge to sit in the High Court.

He will sit in the Queens’ Bench Division, on the elevation of Mr Justice Kitchen to the Court of Appeal.

Singh will be joined in the QBD by three others: Andrew John Popplewell QC, following the elevation of Mr Justice David to the Court of Appeal: Charles Anthony Hadden-Cave QC, on the retirement of Mr Justice David Steel; and His Honour Judge Henry Brian Globe QC, following the elevation of Mrs Justice Rafferty to the Court of Appeal.

Robert Henry Thoroton Hildyard QC will join the Chancery Division, following the elevation of Mr Justice Lewison to the Court of Appeal.

All appointees are barristers. They will take up their new appointments at the start of the new term on 3 October.