Mrs Justice Whipple, who began her career as a solicitor, is among a trio of appointees to the Court of Appeal announced last week. She will be the only former solicitor on the current bench of the highest court in England and Wales. 

Whipple was admitted to the roll in 1991 before transferring to the bar, to which she was called in 1994. She took silk in 2010. Her judicial career began with an appointment as ecorder in 2005. She became a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2015. She has been a presiding judge for the South Eastern Circuit since 2018 and is currently the lead presider on that circuit.

The other appointees, made by the Queen following a recommendation by a selection panel chaired by Lord Burnett of Maldon, the lord chief justice were: 

Mr Justice William Davis, currently judicial lead for youth justice for England and Wales. Davis was called to the bar (Inner Temple) in 1975 and took silk in 1998. He was appointed a recorder in 1995, a circuit judge in 2008, a senior circuit judge in 2009 and a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2014. 

Mr Justice Snowden, supervising judge of the Business and Property Courts for the Northern and North-Eastern Circuits since 2019. Snowden was called to the bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1986 and took silk in 2003. He was appointed a recorder of the Crown court in 2006, a deputy High Court judge in 2008 and a High Court judge of the Chancery Division in 2015. 

The appointment of the new lady justice and two lords justice will fill vacancies that have arisen, a statement by the Prime Minister's Office said. The selection exercise was open to applicants who satisfied the judicial eligibility condition on a seven-year basis or were judges of the High Court.