Judicial Profiles - President of the Family Division
The President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice presides over panels in the Court of Appeal, and is also administrative head of the Family Division of the High Court.
Based at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the Family Division hears some of the most sensitive cases to come before the courts, especially those involving children and young persons.
Who is the President of the Family Division?
The current President of the Family Division, and Head of Family Justice, is Sir Mark Potter.
As well as the President - who is a member of the Civil Court of Appeal - it consists of 19 High Court Judges. It deals with:
- Divorce, including disputes over children, property or money;
- Adoption, wardship and other matters involving children; and
- Judgments on behalf of those who are unable to make decisions for themselves, such as persistent vegetative state victims.
The Family Division also deals with undisputed matters of probate - the legal recognition of the validity of a will - in the Probate Registry of the Family Division in London, and the 11 probate registries in England and Wales.
Appointments
The President of the Family Division - one of the Heads of Division - is appointed by The Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the Lord Chancellor.
Before giving advice the Lord Chancellor customarily consults senior members of the judiciary.
Candidates for the post must, by law, be qualified for appointment as a Lord Justice of Appeal or to be a judge of the Court of Appeal. In practice, Heads of Division are generally appointed from among the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary or Lords Justices of Appeal.
Court Dress
In open court, the President will wear a court coat and waistcoat (or a sleeved waistcoat) with skirt or trousers and bands, a black silk gown and a short wig. In Chambers, he or she will wear a suit.