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Planning specialist appointed Deputy High Court Judge 

Published on: 31 May 2017
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Justine Thornton QC [square]Planning, environmental and energy law specialist Justine Thornton QC has been appointed a Deputy High Court Judge.
 
Thornton, who will combine her judicial responsibilities with full-time practice at 39 Essex Chambers, has been appointed on a four-year term on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Commission. She is expected to sit in the Royal Courts of Justice in London for approximately 30 days a year.

Deputy High Court Judges are required to have the experience and expertise to deal with very complex cases and carry out work which would otherwise be undertaken by High Court Judges.
 
Thornton was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2016 and is also a visiting professor of law at University College London and an editor of the Journal of Environmental Law.   
 
“It is an honour and privilege to be appointed to the judiciary.  I look forward to public service and my role in upholding the rule of law,” she said.