Nicholas Hilliard (judge)
| His Honour Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Recorder of London | |
|
Assumed office 2015 | |
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Brian Barker |
| Common Serjeant of London | |
|
In office 2013–2015 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Barker |
| Succeeded by | Richard Leon Marks QC |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nicholas Richard Maybury Hilliard c. 1959 |
| Residence | London, United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | Bradfield College, Berkshire. Lincoln College, Oxford. |
| Profession | Barrister, Judge |
His Honour Judge Nicholas Richard Maybury Hilliard QC (born 1959 in Yeovil in Somerset) was the 80th Common Serjeant of London, an ancient and senior legal post at the Old Bailey second only to that of the Recorder of London. He was appointed to that office in May 2013. Since 6 January 2015 he has served as the Recorder of London, the senior judge at the Old Bailey.[1]
Early life and education
Hilliard was educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire, and Lincoln College, Oxford. He was Called to the Bar in 1981, and was appointed as a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 2003.[2]
Career
In 1995 Hilliard was appointed Treasury Counsel at the Central Criminal Court and served in that capasiry until 2008 when he was appointed Senior Treasury Counsel. In 2001 he was appointed Recorder of the Crown Court and in 2003 became a Master of the Bench at the Middle Temple. Hillard was Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association from 2005 to 2006. Hilliard was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2008.[3][4] In that year he led for the Prosecution against the murderers of Ben Kinsella.
Prosecutor
In 2011, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Jonathan Rees for the 1987 murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, who had been examining police corruption. Hilliard acknowledged the police could not be relied upon to ensure access to documents that the defence might require and the prosecution was fatally undermined as a result and Rees was discharged.[5]
Judicial appointments
Hilliard was appointed a Senior Circuit Judge in 2012, making him the Resident Judge on the South Eastern Circuit, based at Woolwich Crown Court.[6] He has been a contributing editor to Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice since 1994.
Charity and honourable appointments
A Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers,[7] Hilliard is also a Trustee of Crisis, the charity for single homeless people, and the Ben Kinsella Trust, which aims to promote awareness of the effects of knife crime.[8] Hillard is also a member of the Board of Directors of Association of Commonwealth Criminal Lawyers (ACCL).[3]
External links
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian Barker |
Recorder of London 2015-present |
Succeeded by |
| New office | ||
| Preceded by Brian Barker |
Common Serjeant of London 2013 - 2015 |
Succeeded by Richard Leon Marks QC |
References
- ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2259416
- ↑ 'Masters of the Bar' on the Middle Temple website
- 1 2 Hilliard on the Association of Commonwealth Criminal Lawyers website
- ↑ Legal news: appointments - The Times June 21, 2012
- ↑ Vikram Dodd and Sandra Laville "Scotland Yard admits Daniel Morgan's killers shielded by corruption - Victim's family attack criminal justice system after admission that defendants could not be guaranteed fair trial", guardian.co.uk, 11 March 2011, accessed 17 July 2011
- ↑ Senior Circuit Judge Appointment - Hilliard QC - Ministry of Justice website
- ↑ Hilliard on the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers website - 2012
- ↑ Crisis appoints a new chairman and a number of new trustees to its Board - 5 March 2012
