The Inn is delighted to note the Judicial appointment of the following Gray’s Inn Members in October 2022.
Michael Roques
The King has appointed Michael Roques to be a Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Brandon Lewis CBE MP and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon.
The Lord Chief Justice has deployed him to the South Eastern Circuit, based at St Albans Crown Centre with effect from 24 October 2022.
Michael Roques will be known as His Honour Judge Roques. He was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 2000. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2019.
More details on the Judiciary website.
James Edward Picken
The Late Queen has appointed James Edward Picken to be a Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Brandon Lewis MP and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon. The Lord Chief Justice has deployed him to the Midland Circuit, based at Wolverhampton Combined Court with effect from October 17th, 2022.
James Edward Picken will be known as His Honour Judge Picken. He was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 2004. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2016.
More details on the Judiciary website.
Melanie Plimmer
Judge Melanie Plimmer has been appointed as Chamber President of the First-tier Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber, by the Senior President of Tribunals, the Right Honourable Sir Keith Lindblom with effect from 7 November 2022.
Melanie Plimmer will be known as Judge Plimmer. She was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1996. She was appointed as a Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in 2006 and a Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in 2010. She was appointed as a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Health, Education, and Social Care Chamber) in 2014 and a Judge of the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in 2015. In 2019 she was authorised to sit as a High Court Judge (Family and Kings Bench Divisions) under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981. In 2020 she was appointed as a Senior Judge in the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus.
More details on the Judiciary website.