Honorary graduates

2007

The Rt Hon Sir Igor Judge

Rt Hon Sir Igor JudgeHonorary Degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of his major contribution to the success of Nottingham Law School.

President of the Queen’s Bench Division and Head of Criminal Justice, the Rt Hon Sir Igor Judge, received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws to recognise his major contribution to the success of Nottingham Law School, especially its flagship Bar Vocational Course (BVC).

Over the past decade, Sir Igor - who is also President of the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law and the Galleries of Justice - has played a vital role in the development of the BVC. His award comes at a particularly appropriate time - as the University celebrates the tenth year of this acclaimed programme.

During his eminent career as a barrister and judge of distinction, Sir Igor has appeared in every level of court in the jurisdiction and in innumerable reported cases, including landmark cases which have changed the law. He has also been strongly committed to the development of the legal community in the Midlands.

Called to the Bar in 1963, Sir Igor had a very broad practice, contributing to many important criminal trials and also specialising in major personal injury actions. In 1979 he was appointed QC and in 1987 was elected Leader of the Midland and Oxford Circuit as well as Bencher of the Middle Temple.

Sir Igor was a member of the Judicial Studies Board from 1984-88 and served as Chairman of the Board’s Criminal Committee twice from 1990-93 and 1996-98. His first judicial appointment was as a Recorder of the Crown Court in 1976. In 1988 he was appointed a High Court Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division, a position which he held until his appointment to the Court of Appeal in 1996. During this period he served as Presiding Judge of the Midland and Oxford Circuit.

Shortly after his appointment to the Court of Appeal, Sir Igor became the Senior Presiding Judge of England and Wales, a post he held from 1998 to 2003 until he took on the role of Deputy Chief Justice for England and Wales. He took up his current appointment – becoming the first President of the Queen’s Bench Division – in 2005.

With a particular gift for encouraging aspiring barristers, Sir Igor has given generously of his time to Nottingham Law School and its students. He delivers an annual lecture on sentencing and advocacy, undertakes an annual visit to meet students and hosts the Nottingham Trent University BVC annual dinner. His guidance on current practice and law has been invaluable to Law School staff and he acts as a leading ambassador for the Bar Vocational Course among the wider legal profession and judiciary.