Neil Moody KC will join the High Court’s King’s Bench Division later this month
Neil Moody KC has been appointed as a judge of the High Court of Justice, it has been announced.
The appointment has been made by King Charles III, with the Lady Chief Justice welcoming Mr Moody’s elevation to the bench. He will sit in the King’s Bench Division.
Mr Justice Moody brings more than 36 years’ experience as a practising barrister to the role, alongside two years of judicial experience as a Deputy High Court Judge. His appointment fills a vacancy in the High Court arising from recent elevations to the Court of Appeal and confirmed judicial retirements.
According to the announcement, Mr Justice Moody will formally take up office on 29 January 2026. Upon appointment, he will be known as The Honourable Mr Justice Moody.
Neil Moody was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1989 and took silk in 2010. Over the course of his career at the Bar, he has developed extensive professional experience, which the Lady Chief Justice said would be brought to bear in his new judicial role.
Mr Moody was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2023, a position in which he gained experience of sitting in the High Court prior to his full-time appointment. His judicial service, combined with his long-standing practice as King’s Counsel, was cited as forming a strong foundation for his work in the King’s Bench Division.
The King’s Bench Division deals with a wide range of complex civil and criminal matters, and the appointment is intended to strengthen judicial capacity within the High Court. The vacancy filled by Mr Justice Moody follows a number of recent changes within the senior judiciary, including promotions to the Court of Appeal.
Appointments to the High Court are made following a statutory selection process designed to ensure judicial independence, integrity and professional excellence. The Lady Chief Justice said she was pleased to welcome Mr Justice Moody to the High Court bench and acknowledged the depth of experience he brings to the Division.
Mr Justice Moody’s appointment forms part of the continued renewal of the senior judiciary, as the courts respond to changing demands and maintain the effective administration of justice.