Lord chief justice announces his retirement

The lord chief justice of England and Wales has announced plans to step down after a recent record in post. 

In a statement this morning, HM Judiciary said The Rt Hon. The Lord Burnett of Maldon will retire as lord chief justice on 30 September 2023 after being appointed to the role in October 2017. By his retirement, he will have completed six years in office, more than any other since Lord Lane, who served as lord chief justice from 1980 to 1992.

In a statement, Burnett said: ‘It has been a great privilege to serve as lord chief justice. I have been honoured to lead a wholly independent judiciary dedicated to the rule of law, the administration of justice and public service which confidently celebrates its traditions yet has quietly assimilated very many modern working practices.

‘We have transformed judicial welfare and education and introduced professional support which was lacking in the old arrangements inherited from the Lord Chancellor’s Department by the judicial office. We have become much more active in local communities and schools and have a diversity and inclusion strategy which will continue to deliver results.’

He added: ‘We persuaded successive lord chancellors and government that the technical changes made to judicial pensions had produced the adverse effects on recruitment predicted by my predecessors.

‘By mid-2019 the need for change had been accepted and the resulting legislation finally received Royal Assent earlier this year. There remain difficulties in recruiting to some judicial offices which is the subject of ongoing work.

’There is much to do before I leave office. I shall continue to work constructively with all those whose contributions are vital to the administration of justice. I look forward to continuing to provide service after I leave this role working at a less frenetic pace.’

The lord chief justice’s successor will be announced next summer.