Nicola Davies (judge)

Dame Nicola Velfor Davies DBE (born 13 March 1953)[1] is a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, to which she was appointed in 2018.[2] At the Bar she practised in medical law. She is referred to as Rt Hon Lady Justice Nicola Davies.

Early life

Davies was born in Llanelli, Wales, and grew up in Bridgend. Her father, Eric Davies, was a chartered engineer who was employed by the Steel Company of Wales, and she has a younger brother called Jonathan. She was educated at Bridgend Girls' Grammar School (now closed), where she was the last head girl.[3] In 1971 she entered Birmingham University to read law.

Career

After graduating, Davies worked briefly in a firm of solicitors before becoming an investment analyst in the City of London.[4] She later decided to become a barrister and did her second six-month pupillage at Carpmael Buildings, which later became 3 Serjeant's Inn. She was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1976.[3] As a young barrister acting as a junior counsel to the two doctors involved in the Cleveland child abuse cases, she became recognised as a medical specialist. She also became a member of the Treasury Panels.

In 1992, at the age of 39, she became a Queen's Counsel, and in 1998 she was appointed to sit as an Assistant Recorder.[3] She chaired two Inquiries. In 1998 Davies spent six months on the Bristol heart surgeon's case, then took on the defence of the doctor and serial killer Harold Shipman.[5]

In 2003, Davies was appointed as a deputy High Court judge. On judicial review she quashed a decision to close some National Health Service paediatric surgery units.[6]

In 2013 Davies was appointed as a Presiding Judge of the Wales Circuit between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017.[7]

Davies is an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University.[8]

She was sworn as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in 2018.

References
  1. "Birthdays", The Guardian, p. 37, 13 March 2014
  2. Judiciary of England & Wales, HM Government, 10 December 2012, retrieved 14 March 2014
  3. "Nicola Davies QC made High Court Judge and Dame of The British Empire". News. WalesOnline. 21 January 2010.
  4. "Dame Nicola Davies". First 100 Years. First 100 Years. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. "In Defence of Shipman". BBC News. BBC. 31 January 2000. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  6. "Save Our Surgery Ltd, R (on the application of) v Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts [2013] EWHC 439 (Admin)". Bailii.org. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  7. "Appointment of New Presiding Judges". HM Government. 17 June 2013.
  8. "Honorary Fellowships". Cardiff University. 15 July 2012.


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