A prosecutor from Lancashire has become the first Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer to be appointed a judge.

Duncan Birrell from Lancashire CPS was made a deputy district judge in the magistrates' court last week. He will be able to sit on cases brought by prosecuting authorities such as Customs & Excise, the Department of Trade & Industry, local authorities, and the Department for Work and Pensions, but not those prosecuted by the CPS.


Government lawyers, including those working for the CPS, only became eligible to apply for judicial positions in June 2003 (see [2003] Gazette, 5 June, 4).


Mr Birrell, who was one of 25 successful candidates from a pool of nearly 500 applicants, said: 'My appointment is recognition not only for me but also reflects the changing perception of the CPS and I hope in the future to be the first full-time judge appointed from within the CPS.'


The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald QC, said: 'Mr Birrell's appointment provides a massive boost to the career development opportunities of current and future Crown prosecutors.'