James Munby

The Right Honourable Sir James Munby
President of the Family Division
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 January 2013
Preceded by	Sir Nicholas Wall
Lord Justice of Appeal
In office 12 October 2009 – 11 January 2013
Nominated by	Gordon Brown as Prime Minister
Appointed by	Elizabeth II
Personal details
Born	(1948-07-27) 27 July 1948
Education	Magdalen College School
Alma mater	Wadham College, Oxford

Sir James Lawrence Munby (born 27 July 1948) is a British judge who is President of the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales.

Early life

Munby was born on 27 July 1948. He was educated at Magdalen College School, Oxford and Wadham College, Oxford. He is now an Honorary Fellow of his alma mater.

Legal career

Munby was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1971 and practised as a barrister at New Square Chambers. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988 and then appointed as a High Court Judge on 2 October 2000, assigned to the Family Division and the Administrative Court.

Munby was appointed as Chairman of the Law Commission on 1 August 2009, replacing Lord Justice Etherton. On 12 October of that year, he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal, receiving the customary appointment to the Privy Council. His term as Chairman of the Law Commission expired in August 2012. On 11 January 2013, he succeeded Sir Nicholas Wall as President of the Family Division.

Spencer divorce

Munby was the presiding judge when Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer divorced his second wife, Carolyn Freud. Spencer's barrister Nicholas Mostyn advised his client that the case could be heard in private, which Munby rejected. The Earl was upset at the final settlement. Mostyn, a keen farmer, named his latest batch of seven pigs after his thoughts on Munby: James, Munby, Self-regarding, Pompous, Publicity, Seeking, Pillock. The Earl later unsuccessfully sued Mostyn.

Important changes and decisions

• He opened up the secret family courts in changing the rule as it is now open up in general for the press except when a judge decides opposite
• A twelfe year old Slovak boy who was on the way for a forced adoption (without parental consent). He decided that the child will live with his Slovak aunt. The judgement in detail. Also the mother was allowed to talk in public about her case opposite to the existing gagging orders.
• Decision in reduction in forced adoptions
• Equal representation (Litigants in Person vs Public Funding) – Fair Trial. "Each is a private law case in which a father is seeking to play a role in the life of his child, who lives with the mother." lapso-q-v-q-munby1