Roger John Laugharne Thomas, Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd, PC (born Carmarthen, 22 October 1947) is a British judge. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2013 to 2017.[1]
Thomas was an assistant teacher at Mayo College, Ajmer, India, from 1965 to 1966.[2]
Legal career
Thomas was called to the Bar in 1969 (Gray's Inn). He was elected a Bencher in 1992. He commenced practice in 1972, became a Queen's Counsel in 1984 and was appointed a Recorder in 1987.[1] He practiced as a member of the commercial chambers at 4 Essex Court in the Temple, which in 1994 moved to Lincoln's Inn Fields and has since then been known as Essex Court Chambers.
In 1992 he was appointed by the Department of Trade and Industry as an Inspector into the affairs of Mirror Group Newspapers plc (when it was owned by Robert Maxwell) and its IPO.[2]
On 11 January 1996, he was appointed a High Court judge,[3] receiving the customary knighthood,[4] and was assigned to the Queen's Bench Division, serving on the Commercial Court until his appointment to the Court of Appeal. From 1998 to 2001 he was a Presiding Judge of the Wales and Chester Circuit. On 14 July 2003, Thomas became a Lord Justice of Appeal[5] and given the customary appointment to the Privy Council later that year. He served as the Senior Presiding Judge from 2003 to 2006, and President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary from 2008 to 2010, having participated in its founding in 2003–2004.[1]
On 1 October 2013, Thomas was appointed to succeed Lord Judge as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.[8] On 26 September 2013, it was announced Thomas would become a life peer upon taking office as Lord Chief Justice.[9] He was created a Life Peer on 4 October 2013, taking the title Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd, of Cwmgiedd in the County of Powys.[10] Following his introduction, as a serving member of the judiciary he was immediately disqualified from sitting in the House of Lords under section 137(3) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.
Other affiliations
He was appointed by the Government of Wales in September 2017 to chair a Commission on Justice in Wales.[11] Commissioners were appointed in November 2017. The commission undertook a review of the justice system in Wales (for December 2017 - October 2019) and published its report in October 2019. The report "set a long term vision for the future of justice in Wales".[12][13]
Thomas is one of the Founding Members of the European Law Institute, a non-profit organisation that conducts research, makes recommendations and provides practical guidance in the field of European legal development. He is a member of its Executive Committee.
His disqualification from sitting in the House of Lords ceased on his retirement as Lord Chief Justice. He is a member of the EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee and chaired the Middle Level Bill Committee in 2018.
He is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and a Fellow of the Universities of Cardiff, Aberystwyth, Swansea and Bangor and an Honorary Doctor of Law of the Universities of South Wales, the West of England, Wales and of Cardiff Metropolitan University. He is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.
He was appointed Chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee in November 2017. He returned to Essex Court Chambers in November 2017 and joined the Arbitrators at 24 Lincoln's Inn Fields. He was a founder of the AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society in 1991 and is its president.
Personal life
In 1973, he married Elizabeth Ann Buchanan, daughter of S J Buchanan of Ohio, US.[2] They have one son and one daughter.[2]
He lists his recreations in Who's Who as gardens, walking and travel.[2]
Arms
Coat of arms of John Thomas, Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd
Crest
Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Vert On a Mount Vert growing therefrom Scarlet Carnations flowering proper a Dragon passant Gules grasping in its dexter foreclaws a Caduceus Or.
Escutcheon
Argent a Pale Azure between two Swords palewise points upwards proper hilts and pommels Vert each surrounded by a Chevron Gules.
Supporters
Dexter a Red Kite Sinister A Cardinal both proper.
Motto
Llifed Cyfiawnder Fel Afon Gref (In English: Let justice flow like a strong river).
john, thomas, baron, thomas, cwmgiedd, roger, john, laugharne, thomas, baron, thomas, cwmgiedd, born, carmarthen, october, 1947, british, judge, served, lord, chief, justice, england, wales, from, 2013, 2017, right, honourablethe, lord, thomas, cwmgieddpcthoma. Roger John Laugharne Thomas Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd PC born Carmarthen 22 October 1947 is a British judge He served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2013 to 2017 1 The Right HonourableThe Lord Thomas of CwmgieddPCThomas in 2022Lord Chief Justice of England and WalesIn office 1 October 2013 1 October 2017Nominated byChris GraylingAppointed byElizabeth IIPreceded byThe Lord JudgeSucceeded byThe Lord Burnett of MaldonPresident of the Queen s Bench DivisionIn office 3 October 2011 1 October 2013DeputyDame Heather HallettPreceded bySir Anthony MaySucceeded bySir Brian LevesonLord Justice of AppealIn office 14 July 2003 3 October 2011Personal detailsBorn 1947 10 22 22 October 1947 age 75 Wales United KingdomAlma materTrinity Hall CambridgeUniversity of Chicago Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Legal career 3 Promotion to Lord Chief Justice 4 Other affiliations 5 Personal life 6 Arms 7 See also 8 ReferencesEarly life and education EditThomas was born in 1947 to Roger Edward Laugharne Thomas and his wife Dinah Agnes Thomas of Cwmgiedd 2 Thomas was educated at Rugby School 2 and Trinity Hall Cambridge where he graduated B A in Law in 1966 2 He was elected a Fellow of Trinity Hall in 2004 2 He proceeded to the University of Chicago where he earned a J D degree and was a Commonwealth Fellow 2 Thomas was an assistant teacher at Mayo College Ajmer India from 1965 to 1966 2 Legal career EditThomas was called to the Bar in 1969 Gray s Inn He was elected a Bencher in 1992 He commenced practice in 1972 became a Queen s Counsel in 1984 and was appointed a Recorder in 1987 1 He practiced as a member of the commercial chambers at 4 Essex Court in the Temple which in 1994 moved to Lincoln s Inn Fields and has since then been known as Essex Court Chambers In 1992 he was appointed by the Department of Trade and Industry as an Inspector into the affairs of Mirror Group Newspapers plc when it was owned by Robert Maxwell and its IPO 2 On 11 January 1996 he was appointed a High Court judge 3 receiving the customary knighthood 4 and was assigned to the Queen s Bench Division serving on the Commercial Court until his appointment to the Court of Appeal From 1998 to 2001 he was a Presiding Judge of the Wales and Chester Circuit On 14 July 2003 Thomas became a Lord Justice of Appeal 5 and given the customary appointment to the Privy Council later that year He served as the Senior Presiding Judge from 2003 to 2006 and President of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary from 2008 to 2010 having participated in its founding in 2003 2004 1 In October 2008 Thomas was appointed Vice President of the Queen s Bench Division and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice 6 On 3 October 2011 he succeeded Sir Anthony May as President of the Queen s Bench Division 7 Promotion to Lord Chief Justice EditOn 1 October 2013 Thomas was appointed to succeed Lord Judge as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales 8 On 26 September 2013 it was announced Thomas would become a life peer upon taking office as Lord Chief Justice 9 He was created a Life Peer on 4 October 2013 taking the title Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd of Cwmgiedd in the County of Powys 10 Following his introduction as a serving member of the judiciary he was immediately disqualified from sitting in the House of Lords under section 137 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 Other affiliations EditHe was appointed by the Government of Wales in September 2017 to chair a Commission on Justice in Wales 11 Commissioners were appointed in November 2017 The commission undertook a review of the justice system in Wales for December 2017 October 2019 and published its report in October 2019 The report set a long term vision for the future of justice in Wales 12 13 Thomas is one of the Founding Members of the European Law Institute a non profit organisation that conducts research makes recommendations and provides practical guidance in the field of European legal development He is a member of its Executive Committee His disqualification from sitting in the House of Lords ceased on his retirement as Lord Chief Justice He is a member of the EU Financial Affairs Sub Committee and chaired the Middle Level Bill Committee in 2018 He is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall Cambridge and a Fellow of the Universities of Cardiff Aberystwyth Swansea and Bangor and an Honorary Doctor of Law of the Universities of South Wales the West of England Wales and of Cardiff Metropolitan University He is a Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales He has been Chancellor of Aberystwyth University since January 2018 14 He was appointed Chairman of the Financial Markets Law Committee in November 2017 He returned to Essex Court Chambers in November 2017 and joined the Arbitrators at 24 Lincoln s Inn Fields He was a founder of the AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society in 1991 and is its president Personal life EditIn 1973 he married Elizabeth Ann Buchanan daughter of S J Buchanan of Ohio US 2 They have one son and one daughter 2 He lists his recreations in Who s Who as gardens walking and travel 2 Arms EditCoat of arms of John Thomas Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd Crest Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Vert On a Mount Vert growing therefrom Scarlet Carnations flowering proper a Dragon passant Gules grasping in its dexter foreclaws a Caduceus Or Escutcheon Argent a Pale Azure between two Swords palewise points upwards proper hilts and pommels Vert each surrounded by a Chevron Gules Supporters Dexter a Red Kite Sinister A Cardinal both proper Motto Llifed Cyfiawnder Fel Afon Gref In English Let justice flow like a strong river See also EditList of Lords Justices of AppealReferences Edit a b c Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales The Rt Hon Lord Thomas Judiciary of England and Wales Archived from the original on 30 October 2012 a b c d e f g h i j Rt Hon Sir Roger John Laugharne Thomas of Cwmgiedd Who s Who A amp C Black 2013 No 54291 The London Gazette 17 January 1996 p 747 No 54407 The London Gazette 24 May 1996 p 7221 No 57004 The London Gazette 18 July 2003 p 8986 Rozenberg Joshua 12 October 2012 A Who s Hughes of the number twos The Telegraph No 59931 The London Gazette 6 October 2011 p 19091 Appointment of the Lord Chief Justice Press release Gov uk 16 July 2013 Retrieved 16 July 2013 Peerage for the new Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Gov uk 26 September 2013 Retrieved 1 October 2013 No 60649 The London Gazette 7 October 2013 p 19679 First Minister establishes a Commission on Justice in Wales Welsh Government Welsh Government Retrieved 3 September 2021 The Commission on Justice in Wales gov wales Welsh Government Retrieved 3 September 2021 Executive Committee Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd appointed University Chancellor Aberystwyth University 18 May 2017 Retrieved 10 October 2019 Legal officesPreceded byThe Lord Judge Lord Chief Justice2013 2017 Succeeded byThe Lord Burnett of MaldonAcademic officesPreceded byEmyr Jones Parry President of Aberystwyth University2018 present Succeeded byIncumbentOrders of precedence in the United KingdomPreceded byThe Lord Bamford GentlemenBaron Thomas of Cwmgiedd Followed byThe Lord Richards of Herstmonceux Portals United Kingdom Wales Biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Thomas Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd amp oldid 1129948561, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
