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Lord Justice Stephen Cobb has been appointed President of the Family Division, following the retirement of Sir Andrew McFarlane.
The appointment was approved by King Charles III on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, following a recommendation from an independent selection panel chaired by Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.
Welcoming the appointment, the Lady Chief Justice highlighted Lord Justice Cobb’s experience in family justice, including his role as Chair of the Private Law Working Group, his tenure as Family Presiding Judge for the North Eastern Circuit, and his involvement in the HM Courts & Tribunals Service Reform Programme.
Lord Justice Cobb, who was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1985 and took silk in 2003, began his judicial career as a Recorder in 2004. He was appointed to the High Court in 2013, sitting in the Family Division, and later served in the Administrative Court and as a judge of the Court of Protection. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2024.
As President, he becomes Head of the Family Division of the High Court, Head of Family Justice, and President of the Court of Protection. The role also includes oversight of the Family Division of the High Court, responsibility for probate matters, and chairing both the Family Procedure Rule Committee and the Family Justice Council.
The appointment comes at a time of ongoing reform within the family justice system, including the rollout of new child-focused approaches to private law proceedings and continued efforts to improve efficiency and transparency across the courts.
