The new President of the Family Division, Sir Stephen Cobb, was sworn in by the Lady Chief Justice, at a ceremony in the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday 14 May.
The President of the Family Division (PFD) is Head of Family Justice in England and Wales. He is the judge with day-to-day responsibility for the Family Division of the High Court and the Family Court. He also takes up the role of President of the Court of Protection.
The judges who sit in the family courts decide cases involving public law care and safeguarding proceedings, private law child arrangements following parental separation, divorce, including disputes over property or money; they deal with adoption cases, medical treatment, wardship, surrogacy and undisputed matters of probate – the legal recognition of the validity of a will. Judges of the Court of Protection determine issues concerning adults who lack capacity to make decisions for themselves.
In addition, the PFD is chair of both the Family Procedure Rule Committee and Family Justice Council.
Speeches were made in recognition of his appointment by the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, the Chair of the Bar Council, Kirsty Brimelow KC, the Chair of the Family Law Bar Association, Leslie Samuels KC and the President of the Law Society, Mark Evans.
In her speech the Lady Chief Justice said:
“Those who were present at Lord Justice Cobb’s swearing in to the Court of Appeal last year may remember my congratulations for his elevation to the next rung of the judicial ladder – which, given his stature, was an object that he rarely had to use. Perhaps that was less a joke, and more a premonition. To the surprise of no-one, Stephen has once again been elevated, now to the role of President of the Family Division. I know, indeed we all know, that Stephen will be a superb President, bringing his intellect, drive, charm and wit to this important role”.
Lord Justice Cobb said:
“I am honoured to be sworn in as President of the Family Division and look forward to leading the judges and magistrates of the family courts. Many people need access to family justice, and the decisions of the family courts invariably have a profound impact on both adults and children. I am privileged to work with dedicated family judges and magistrates to ensure the fair, impartial and sensitive resolution of these cases at all levels of the Family Court, and in the Court of Protection”.
The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Stephen Cobb was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, in 1985 and took Silk in 2003. He started his judicial career as a Recorder in 2004 and was authorised to hear cases under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in 2009.
He was appointed as a High Court Judge in 2013 and was assigned to the Family Division; he also sat in the Administrative Court of the Kings Bench Division and was a nominated judge of the Court of Protection. He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in June 2024, and took his place in 2025. He served as a Family Presiding Judge (North Eastern Circuit) between 2015 and 2021.
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seen at 11:57, 15 May in Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.