Dame Judith Mary Frances Parker, DBE (born 19 June 1950) is a retired British judge and barrister. From 2008 to 2019, she was a Justice of the High Court of England and Wales.

Dame Judith Parker
Justice of the High Court
In office
13 June 2008 – 2 July 2019
Personal details
Born
Judith Mary Frances Parker

(1950-06-19) 19 June 1950 (age 74)
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Alma materSomerville College, Oxford

Early life and education

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Judith Parker was born on 19 June 1950.[1] She studied Jurisprudence at Somerville College, Oxford,[2] and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972.[3]

Parker is an Honorary Fellow of Somerville College.[4]

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In 1973, Parker was called to the Bar by Middle Temple.[3] She then specialised in family law.[2] On 9 April 1991, she was appointed Queen's Counsel (QC).[5]

Judiciary

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Between 1998 and 2000, Parker served as an assistant recorder (i.e. a part-time judge).[2] On 7 March 2000, she was appointed a Master of the Bench of Middle Temple.[6] On 18 July 2000, she was appointed a Recorder, and served as a part-time judge on the South Eastern Circuit.[7]

On 13 June 2008, Parker was appointed a Judge assigned to the Family Division of the High Court of Justice.[8] She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) shortly after being appointed.[3] In 2018, during an unknown hearing, she dozed off momentarily, for which she was given official advice.[9] She retired shortly after.

References

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  1. ^ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. 19 June 2013. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2014. Mrs Justice Parker 63
  2. ^ a b c "Judith Mary Frances PARKER". People of Today. Debrett's. Retrieved 20 June 2016.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b c "PARKER, Hon. Dame Judith Mary Frances". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Emeritus and Honorary Fellows". Somerville College, Oxford. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  5. ^ "No. 52502". The London Gazette. 12 April 1991. p. 5717.
  6. ^ "The Hon Mrs Justice Parker". Masters of the Bench. The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. ^ "No. 55921". The London Gazette. 24 July 2000. p. 0.
  8. ^ "Senior judiciary". judiciary.gov.uk. Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Legal Cheek". Legalcheek.com. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.