Lady Justice Thirlwall | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lady Justice of Appeal | |
| Assumed office 2017 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| High Court Judge Queen's Bench Division | |
| In office 2010–2017 | |
| Succeeded by | Sir Julian Knowles |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1957-11-21)21 November 1957 (age 68) |
| Alma mater | University of Bristol Newcastle Polytechnic |
| Occupation | Judge |
Dame Kathryn Mary Thirlwall,DBE (born 21 November 1957), styledThe Rt Hon Lady Justice Thirlwall, is an English judge of theCourt of Appeal, and from January 2020 to September 2021 was theSenior Presiding Judge for England and Wales.[1] She practised as abarrister from 1982, was aHigh Court judge from April 2010, and was promoted to theCourt of Appeal of England and Wales in February 2017.[2]
Thirlwall was born on 21 November 1957.[3] She was educated atSt Anthony's Girls' Catholic School, aCatholicstate school in Sunderland.[4] She then studied at theUniversity of Bristol, graduating with aBachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1980.[3] She studied for theCommon Professional Examination, a qualification for those without a law degree, atNewcastle Polytechnic; she completed this in 1981.[5]
She was called to the bar atMiddle Temple in 1982. She specialised in local authority education and abuse litigation. She became aQC in 1999, and served on the Professional Standards Committee of theBar Council from 1999 to 2005. She became head of chambers at 7 Bedford Row in 2006, and abencher of Middle Temple in 2008.[6]
Thirlwall was appointed as an assistant recorder in 1998 and then as arecorder in 2000. She was appointed as aHigh Court judge in April 2010, assigned to theQueen's Bench Division, and received the customary damehood. She was Presiding Judge of the Midlands Circuit from 2011 to 2015.[7][8] She was promoted to theCourt of Appeal of England and Wales in February 2017.[9] She is the Treasurer ofMiddle Temple for 2025.
In September 2023, the UK government said that she would lead thestatutory inquiry into the case ofLucy Letby.[10] In 2025 she said that the enquiry would report in early 2026.[11]
She is married to Professor Charles Kelly; they have two adult children.[citation needed]
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