Sir Derek Anthony Sweeting is a British High Court judge.[1]

Mr Justice Sweeting
Justice of the High Court
Assumed office
11 January 2022
Appointed byElizabeth II
Personal details
BornUnited Kingdom
Alma materClare College, Cambridge
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Early life

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Sweeting grew up in Greater London, attending a state school and later studying law at Clare College, Cambridge.[2][1]

Before undertaking his Law degree, he served in the British Army for 1 year. He trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was deployed to West Germany as a Tank Commander. Upon completion of his studies in Cambridge, he enlisted as a Reservist in the Special Air Service (SAS).[2]

Career

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Sweeting was called to the Bar in 1983 by Middle Temple[3] and was appointed King's Counsel in 2001.[4]

Before becoming a High Court judge, he practiced at the Barristers' chambers ‘7BR’.[5]

Bar Council

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He was appointed as Chair of the Bar council in 2021 until 2022.[6]

In April 2021, Sweeting questioned whether the term 'BAME' (Black, Asian, and Minority ethnic) could "disguise the fact that there's massive under-representation of black members of our community at the bar".[7]

Judicial career

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Sweeting was appointed as a Recorder in the Crown Court and County Court on 15 March 2002.[8]

On 11 January 2022, Sweeting was appointed as a High Court Judge. He was assigned to the King's Bench Division by the Lord Chief Justice.[3] He received his customary Knighthood in July 2023, at Windsor Castle.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "High Court Judges 2021". Judicial Appointments Commission. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b Popal, Rehana (13 December 2020). "Derek Sweeting QC: Chair of the Bar 2021". Counsel Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b "High Court Appointment – Sweeting QC". Judiciary UK. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Crown Office | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  5. ^ 7BR (22 December 2021). "Derek Sweeting QC has been appointed to the High Court Bench". 7BR Barristers Chambers. Retrieved 17 January 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Officers of the Bar Council". Bar Council. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ^ Slingo, Jemma (4 April 2021). "Bar council chair criticises 'BAME' label". The Law Society Gazette. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Crown Office | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  9. ^ "CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD | Honours and Awards | The Gazette". London Gazette. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.