Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster

The Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster is an office of the Duchy of Lancaster. The vice-chancellor is appointed by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster after consultation with the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.[1] Since 1987, the vice-chancellor has been a High Court judge of the Chancery Division with a term of approximately three years.

Lancashire County Palatine shown within England

The Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster exercises general supervision over the conduct of Chancery division business in the North of England and is an ex-officio member of the court of Lancaster University.

Before the implementation of the Courts Act 1971, the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine was controlled by section 14 of the Administration of Justice Act 1881. From 1973 to 1987, Andrew James Blackett-Ord, a circuit judge held the post.[2] Since then, the office has been held by a Justice of the High Court sitting in the Chancery Division.

List of Vice-Chancellors

Source: (1871 onwards): Northern Circuit

• 1649 and 1651 : Thomas Fell
• ?–?1790 : William Swinnerton (served 33 years, died 1790)
• 1791 : James Allan Park
• 1799-1824: Edward King[3]
• 1826-1844 :Francis Ludlow Holt
• 1849–1851 : William Page Wood [4]
• 1851–1852: Richard Bethell, 1st Baron Westbury
• ?–1868 : William Milbourne James
• 1868–1871 : John Wickens
• 1871–1881 : George Little
• 1881–1893: Henry Fox Bristowe [5]
• 1893–1895 : William Fothergill Robinson [6]
• 1895–1905 : Sir Samuel Hall [7]
• 1905–1912 : Octavius Leigh-Clare
• 1912–1919 : Sir Dudley Stewart-Smith
• 1919–1925 : Roger Bernard Lawrence
• 1925–1936 : Sir (William) Courthope Townshend Wilson
• 1936–1948 : Sir John Bennett
• 1948–1963 : Sir (John) Leonard Stone
• 1963–1973 : Sir Thomas Burgess
• 1973–1987: Andrew James Blackett-Ord

Since 1987

• 1987–1991: Sir Richard Scott[8]
• 1991–1994: Sir Andrew Morritt[9]
• 1994–1999: Sir Jonathan Parker[10]
• 1999–2002: Sir William Blackburne[11]
• 2002–2005: Sir Timothy Lloyd[12]
• 2005–2008: Sir Nicholas Patten[13]
• 2008–2012: Sir David Richards[14]
• 2012–2013: Sir Michael Briggs[15]
• 2013: Sir Alastair Norris
• 2019: Sir Richard Snowden

References

1. GNN - Government News Network
2. "Who's Who in Cumbria". News and Star. 13 January 2006. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
3. The Annual Register. 1800.
4. Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List of All Known Students ..., Volume 2. p. 564.
5. "No. 25730". The London Gazette. 16 August 1887. p. 4454.
6. Venn. Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List of All Known Students ..., Volume 2:first=John. p. 335.
7. "HALL, Sir Samuel". Friends of Hastings Cemetery.
8. "The Rt Hon the Lord Scott of Foscote". Debrett's People of Today. Archived from the original on 10 January 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
9. "Sir Andrew Morritt CVO". Judiciary of England and Wales. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
10. "Sir Jonathan Parker:Profile". Serle Court Chambers. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
11. "High Court Judge Appointed". GovMonitor. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
12. "Privy Council Appointments" (Press release). Number10.gov.uk. 7 June 2005. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
13. "Lord Justice of Appeal" (Press release). Number10.gov.uk. 22 May 2009. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
14. "Senior judicial appointments announced" (Press release). Judiciary of England and Wales. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
15. "Welcome to our new Vice-Chancellor" (PDF). Duchy of Lancaster News. Spring 2012. p. 3. Retrieved 29 October 2012.

External links

• Duchy of Lancaster official website