A day in the life of... High Court judge

IN the Family Division we have to be experts in dispute resolution," admits the phlegmatic Honourable Mister Justice Paul Coleridge. At 52, and a High Court Judge since 2000, Coleridge hears cases that are too large or complex for the Circuit Judges and magistrates to deal with in the lower and regional courts.

Like all High Court judges dealing with Civil Law in England and Wales, Coleridge has an office in the imposing buildings of the Royal Courts Of Justice in Fleet Street.

Cases are heard Monday to Friday, either in a morning session, which is supposed to begin at 10am and end at 1pm, or in the afternoon between 2pm and 4.30pm. Coleridge's day, however, begins as he gets off his motorcycle at 8.30am, and any time he has "spare" before he leaves at 6.30pm is spent preparing for the following day's hearings.

In addition to courtroom duties, Coleridge and his colleagues spend a great deal of time involved in circuit administration, sitting on committees, giving lectures and attending refresher courses. The Law, with its rules of precedent, is by its nature an ever-evolving structure. This evolution is reinforced by the judges themselves who must keep abreast of changes in society that affect the Law.

Coleridge says: "I sit on an interdisciplinary committee where I meet with doctors and all the other disciplines involved in family law to discuss the problems which perennially cause difficulty."

The disputes that Coleridge hears in the Family Division are not limited to child abuse, the intricacies of divorce and other such domestic issues.

He also adjudicates in medical matters and explains: "These are some of the most painfully difficult and interesting cases. For example, whether or not to turn off life support."

Talking to Coleridge, it is clear he has a passion for law from both an intellectual standpoint and a human one.

He says: "It is important to remain absolutely focused.

You have the responsibility of getting the decisions right.

Sometimes the arguments are very finely balanced and the decision you make affects people's lives in a very real way. One is very conscious of that, particularly with children."

Like all High Court judges, Coleridge was appointed to the job by the Lord Chancellor. Having worked as a successful barrister specialising in family law, he also served for seven years as one of the elite Queen's Counsel, from where most High Court appointments are made.

When Coleridge was first approached by Lord Irvine to take up the role, he admits it had not always been his ambition. "I didn't set out to be a judge.

As a barrister, it's a fantastic profession and an exciting life."

The competition to be appointed to the bench is intense, however, and High Court judges must serve as deputies for a number of years before they are considered for the full positions. With a compulsory retirement age of 70, High Court judges have an annual gross salary of pounds 132,650, which is considerably less than the income of senior barristers. Although, for many in the profession, the security and change of role comes at a time when the money and pressure associated with high-profile work can begin to take their toll. "I was a barrister for 29 years and, by that time, I felt like a change. It would have been a shame, though, to give up all those years of experience and expertise and retire. Being appointed to the High Court enables you to carry on in the life and stay in touch with your friends but with a different role in the drama."

Despite the late retirement age, the reality is far from the image of the muddled old judge ruling over an unwitting public that has no recourse. But Coleridge admits: "We all get it wrong from time to time. Thankfully there is the Court of Appeal which is a vital safety net.

Ultimately, cases can go to the House Of Lords. The burden of the job would be intolerable if, when one got it wrong, no one else would look at the case again."

Although the media and public are not usually allowed into the Family Division, cases are recorded in the published law reports and now on a website. Even a great institution such as the High Court has not been able to resist the information revolution and, with a laptop and mobile phone, Coleridge can be on call 24 hours a day for emergency out-of-hours hearings.

The courtrooms of the Family Division at the Royal Courts Of Justice are not the daunting places that one might expect; certainly not as daunting as the Crown (criminal) Courts.

Proceedings have a more intimate feel and the emphasis is on conciliation rather than castigation.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Late retirement age

High standing in the community

Job security

Cons

Immense responsibility

Flat salary curve

Necessity to attend court every working day

Copyright 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.