Lord Justice Cobb appointed President of the Family Division following McFarlane’s retirement
Stephen Cobb has been appointed President of the Family Division, following approval by His Majesty The King.
The appointment, announced in April 2026, follows the retirement of Andrew McFarlane. The role places Lord Justice Cobb at the head of family justice in England and Wales, with responsibility for overseeing the work of the Family Division of the High Court.
Sue Carr welcomed the appointment, stating that Lord Justice Cobb’s experience makes him well-suited to the position. She highlighted his previous role as chair of the Private Law Working Group, his service as Family Presiding Judge for the North Eastern Circuit, and his involvement in the HM Courts & Tribunals Service reform programme.
Lord Justice Cobb was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1985 and took silk in 2003. He began his judicial career as a Recorder in 2004 and was authorised to sit under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in 2009.
He was appointed as a High Court judge in 2013 and assigned to the Family Division. During this time, he also sat in the Administrative Court of the King’s Bench Division and served as a nominated judge of the Court of Protection.
In June 2024, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal and took up the role in 2025. He also served as Family Presiding Judge for the North Eastern Circuit between 2015 and 2021.
The appointment process followed a recommendation by an independent selection panel chaired by the Lady Chief Justice. The panel included David Lloyd-Jones, alongside lay members of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
As President of the Family Division, Lord Justice Cobb will lead one of the three divisions of the High Court. The role includes responsibility for family justice policy and oversight of cases involving children, divorce, financial disputes, adoption, and other family-related matters.
The President also holds several additional positions, including Head of Family Justice, Head of Probate, and President of the Court of Protection. The role involves chairing both the Family Procedure Rule Committee and the Family Justice Council.
The Family Division hears complex and sensitive cases, including public law care proceedings and private law disputes concerning child arrangements. It also handles probate matters, including the administration of wills through registries across England and Wales.
The appointment confirms Lord Justice Cobb’s progression within the senior judiciary and places him at the centre of the family justice system at a national level.