Dame Victoria Madeleine Sharp, DBE, PC (born 8 February 1956) is the President of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in England and Wales.
Victoria Sharp | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sharp in 2019 | |
| President of the King's Bench Division | |
| Assumed office 2019 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Preceded by | Sir Brian Leveson |
| Lady Justice of Appeal | |
| In office 2013–2019 | |
| High Court Judge | |
| In office 2009–2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 February 1956 |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol[1] |
Early life edit
She is the daughter of The Lord Sharp of Grimsdyke.[2] Her twin brother is Richard Sharp, a former Goldman Sachs banker, and former Chairman of the BBC.[3] She is Jewish.[4] She was educated at North London Collegiate School and the University of Bristol.[5][6]
Career edit
Sharp was called to the Bar, Inner Temple in 1979. She became a Recorder in 1998, and a QC in 2001.[5]
She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), as is customary, on her appointment as a Justice of the High Court on 13 January 2009.[7]
She was Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit from 2012 to 2013, and was appointed a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2013.[8] She became Vice-President of the Queen's Bench Division on 1 January 2016, succeeding Sir Nigel Davis. She became President of the Queen's Bench Division from 23 June 2019[9] succeeding Sir Brian Leveson.[9]
Personal life edit
Sharp married a doctor; she had four children within five years. Nevertheless, she remained in full-time law practice during those years, not taking leave. "She was convinced that if she had not dedicated herself to her job as she did by rejecting any leave on the birth of any of her children, she would have been significantly disadvantaged; as she puts it, "if you were not there in Chambers, you did not receive briefs and you had no job."[10]
References edit
- ^ "Biographies of the Court of Appeal judges". www.judiciary.uk.
- ^ Who's Who 2019.
- ^ Bland, Archie (6 January 2021). "Former Goldman Sachs banker Richard Sharp to be next BBC chairman". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ Reporter, Jewish News. "Former banker Richard Sharp to take over as BBC chairman". jewishnews.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Appointment of Deputy Head of Criminal Justice". www.judiciary.uk.
- ^ Profile, theguardian.com; accessed 26 March 2014.
- ^ England & Wales Senior Judiciary; accessed 26 March 2014.
- ^ "Appointment of the President of the Queen's Bench Division". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Press release Appointment of the President of the Queen's Bench Division: 5 April 2019". Prime Minister's Press Office. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ Clarke, David (15 July 2014). "Rt Hon. Lady Justice Sharp, DBE". University of Bristol. Retrieved 6 January 2021.