Lord Hamblen announces his retirement from the Supreme Court and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Lord Hamblen of Kersey has today (6th October 2026) announced his intention to retire from the Supreme Court and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) on 30th September 2027.

Lord Hamblen, who was educated at St John's College, University of Oxford and Harvard Law School, became a Justice of the Supreme Court in January 2020. He was called to the Bar (Lincoln's Inn) in 1981, practising at the Commercial Bar from 1982-2008. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997, an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and a Recorder in 2000.

Lord Hamblen was appointed to sit as a Justice in the High Court in November 2008 and was a nominated Commercial Court Judge. In February 2016 he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal.

Speaking as he announced his intention to retire, Lord Hamblen said:

"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The variety of the work and its importance, both nationally and internationally, mean that it is uniquely challenging and rewarding. It has also been an honour to help in the valuable work carried out by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Above all, I have enjoyed sitting with - and learning from - my colleagues in what has been an extremely collaborative period for the Court."

It is expected that the Lord Chancellor will now convene an independent Selection Commission to appoint Lord Hamblen's successor. A page on the Supreme Court website (Judicial Vacancies - Justice of the Supreme Court) has been created to explain the role of a Justice, and the application process. The page also has interviews with former and serving Justices about their career paths, why they applied to become a Justice, and what to expect in the role.