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Dame Victoria Sharp has retired from the judiciary after more than a decade in senior judicial leadership, ending her tenure as President of the King’s Bench Division and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice.
When did Dame Victoria Sharp retire?
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary announced that Dame Victoria Sharp DBE retired as President of the King’s Bench Division with effect from 1 October 2026. Her final day as President was Wednesday 30 September 2026.
Dame Victoria had led the King’s Bench Division since 2019. The division is the largest division of the High Court and deals with a wide range of civil and criminal work, including judicial review and some of the most serious criminal cases heard across England and Wales.
Her retirement marks the end of a period in which the division underwent significant operational and technological change while continuing to deal with substantial demands on the courts.
What did Dame Victoria Sharp achieve as President?
Dame Victoria became the first woman to lead the King’s Bench Division when she was appointed President in 2019. In 2020, she also became the first woman to serve as Deputy Head of Criminal Justice.
During her presidency, the King’s Bench Division’s work included the general civil jurisdiction of the High Court, the Administrative Court, Planning Court, Media and Communications List, Commercial Court and Technology and Construction Court. She also oversaw High Court judges sitting around the country on serious criminal cases, including cases on the Terrorism List.
Her tenure coincided with major changes to the way courts operated. CE File was introduced into the division in 2019, marking a move away from paper-based processes towards a digital system.
The division also had to adapt during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Judiciary said new working methods enabled the administration of justice to continue without interruption while the courts faced unprecedented operational pressures.
How did she help shape the justice system?
Dame Victoria was a prominent advocate for greater transparency, modernisation and public understanding of the justice system during more than a decade of senior judicial leadership.
She led the introduction of livestreaming in the Court of Appeal and the broadcasting of sentencing remarks in the Crown Court. These initiatives formed part of wider efforts to make court proceedings more accessible to the public.
“It has been a great privilege to have been a serving judge, to have been Deputy Head of Criminal Justice and to have led the King’s Bench Division for seven years, including through the pandemic.”
Artificial intelligence also became an increasingly important issue during the later part of her tenure. Dame Victoria addressed the risks and opportunities presented by AI in lectures and speeches, including the Mayflower Lecture 2025 and a 2026 speech on judicial independence in the age of AI.
Her judicial work also included decisions involving facial recognition technology, tracking technology, non-crime hate incidents, extradition and the misuse of artificial intelligence by lawyers.
What was Dame Victoria Sharp’s judicial career?
Dame Victoria read law at Bristol University and was called to the Bar at Inner Temple in 1979. She took silk in 2001 before beginning her judicial career as a Recorder in 1998.
- Called to the Bar at Inner Temple.
- Appointed as a Recorder.
- Took silk.
- Appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge.
- Appointed as a High Court Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division, now the King’s Bench Division.
- Served as Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit.
- Appointed as a Lady Justice of Appeal.
- Appointed Vice-President of the Queen’s Bench Division.
- Became the first woman President of the King’s Bench Division.
- Appointed Deputy Head of Criminal Justice.
- Retired from the judiciary and as President of the King’s Bench Division.
What did Dame Victoria Sharp say about her retirement?
Reflecting on her departure, Dame Victoria said that it had been a privilege to serve as a judge, Deputy Head of Criminal Justice and President of the King’s Bench Division.
She paid tribute to the judges of the King’s Bench Division and the wider judiciary for their work supporting the administration of justice, particularly in difficult circumstances.
Dame Victoria also wished her successor well as she brought her tenure as President of the King’s Bench Division to an end.
Her successor is Lord Justice Mark Warby, whose appointment was approved by His Majesty The King following the recommendation of an independent selection panel chaired by the Lady Chief Justice. He succeeds Dame Victoria as President of the King’s Bench Division.
Frequently asked questions
When did Dame Victoria Sharp retire?
Dame Victoria Sharp retired from the judiciary and as President of the King’s Bench Division with effect from 1 October 2026. Her final day as President was 30 September 2026.
How long was Dame Victoria Sharp President of the King’s Bench Division?
She served as President from 2019 until September 2026, a period of seven years.
Was Dame Victoria Sharp the first woman to lead the King’s Bench Division?
Yes. She became the first woman to lead the King’s Bench Division when she was appointed President in 2019.
What other senior judicial role did Dame Victoria Sharp hold?
In 2020 she became Deputy Head of Criminal Justice, also becoming the first woman to hold that role.
Who succeeds Dame Victoria Sharp?
Lord Justice Mark Warby succeeds Dame Victoria Sharp as President of the King’s Bench Division following her retirement.