Sue Carr, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill

Sue Lascelles Carr, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, DBE, PC (born 1 September 1964) is an English jurist and life peer who has served as Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales since 1 October 2023. She is the first woman to serve as the head of the judiciary of England and Wales since the inception of the office of Lord Chief Justice in the 13th century. Carr previously served as a High Court judge from 2013 to 2020 and a Lady Justice of Appeal from 2020 to 2023.

The Right Honourable The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill DBE PC
Carr in 2022
Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 October 2023
Nominated by	Alex Chalk
Appointed by	Charles III
Preceded by	The Lord Burnett of Maldon
Lady Justice of Appeal
In office 21 April 2020 – 30 September 2023
Justice of the High Court
In office 14 June 2013 – 20 April 2020
Preceded by	Mr Justice Stadlen
Succeeded by	Mr Justice Calver
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 November 2023 Life peerage[a]
Personal details
Born	Sue Lascelles Carr (1964-09-01) 1 September 1964 (age 60) United Kingdom
Spouse	Alexander Birch ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	3
Parent	Richard Carr (father)
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge

Early life and education

Carr was born on 1 September 1964 to businessman Richard Carr and Edda Harvey (née Armbrust).^[1] She was educated at Wycombe Abbey, an independent girls' school in Buckinghamshire. At Wycombe Abbey, Carr was a member of the lacrosse team, sang in the school choir, and played the piano and the viola, choosing the latter instrument because "it would maximise [her] chances of getting into the School orchestra". She later served as a governor of the school for 13 years.^[2]

Carr read modern languages and law at Trinity College, Cambridge.^[1][3]

Legal career

Carr was called to the bar in 1987 and practised from 4 New Square Chambers. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2003.^[4] On 6 May 2009, Carr was appointed a recorder,^[5] and was approved to serve as a deputy High Court judge.^[6]

Carr was the chairman of the Professional Negligence Bar Association in 2007 and 2008, and the chairman of the Conduct Committee of the Bar Standards Board from 2008 to 2011.^[3] In April 2011, Carr was appointed Disciplinary Commissioner in proceedings before the International Criminal Court.^[7]

On 14 June 2013, Carr was appointed a High Court judge in the room of Mr Justice Stadlen,^[6][8] receiving the customary appointment as Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE).^[9] She was assigned to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court.^[3] She was a member of the board of the Judicial College from 2014 to 2018, and served as a member of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal from 2014 to 2016.^[3][10] Carr is a governing bencher of the Inner Temple.

Carr was appointed to the Court of Appeal on 21 April 2020,^[11] and was succeeded as a High Court judge by Mr Justice Calver.^[12] Carr was sworn of the Privy Council on 28 April 2021.^[13]

On 15 June 2023, Carr's appointment as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales was announced.^[14] She became the first woman to head the judiciary of England and Wales since the inception of the office in the 13th century.^[15][16][17] Carr chose to be styled Lady Chief Justice and succeeded Lord Burnett of Maldon on 1 October.^[18] Her swearing-in on 2 October was the first time that the ceremony was livestreamed.^[19] On 6 November, she was created a life peer as Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, of Walton-on-the-Hill in the County of Surrey.^[20] She was introduced to the House of Lords on 30 November.^[21][22]

Gaza immigration ruling controversy

In February 2025, Lady Chief Justice Carr issued a rare rebuke to both Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Tories and the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer after they disagreed with a ruling in an immigration case which allowed a Palestinian family to gain asylum in the UK through the Ukraine refugee scheme. Baroness Carr faced accusations she was attempting to suppress criticism when she claimed she was 'deeply troubled'^[23] by their charge that the immigration judge had made the 'wrong decision'.

Mrs Badenoch, who believes that the decision to allow a family from Gaza to come to the UK was 'outrageous for many reasons', warned Baroness Carr that politicians have a right to speak out as 'Parliament is sovereign'. The Bar Council have issued support for Baroness Carr after Tory peer Lord Frost said judges 'really need to stop being so high and mighty'. Sir Keir agreed 'it should be Parliament that makes the rules on immigration' and told the House of Commons that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was working to close 'this loophole'.^[24][25]

Personal life

Carr married Alexander Birch in 1993. They have two sons and a daughter.^[1][3]

Notes

1. As a serving senior judge, Carr is currently disqualified from sitting in the House of Lords.