Dame Victoria Sharp, leader of England and Wales’s largest High Court division, to retire in October
Dame Victoria Sharp has announced she will step down as President of the King’s Bench Division, marking the end of a formidable era in the senior judiciary. The high-profile judge, who shattered glass ceilings as the first woman to lead the division, confirmed on 14ᵗʰ January that she will vacate her post in October 2026.
This departure signals a significant shift for the High Court’s largest division. Since 2019, Dame Victoria has commanded over 70 judges, overseeing a vast legal landscape that stretches from the Commercial Court to the gravest criminal trials in the land. Her exit leaves a vacancy at the helm of a critical institution responsible for everything from media disputes to complex contract litigation.
Dame Victoria’s tenure has been defined by her management of unprecedented crises. She steered the courts through the chaos of the global pandemic, ensuring that criminal justice in England and Wales did not grind to a halt—a feat few other jurisdictions managed. As Deputy Head of Criminal Justice, she kept the wheels of law turning when the world stood still.
Beyond crisis management, she has been a relentless force for modernisation. Dame Victoria championed transparency, driving the initiative to livestream Court of Appeal hearings and broadcast sentencing remarks from the Crown Courts. These moves peeled back the curtain on the judicial process, bringing the courtroom into the living rooms of the public for the first time.
Reflecting on her decision, Dame Victoria described her role as a “great privilege”. She expressed immense pride in the judges under her watch, highlighting their dedication to the administration of justice. However, her departure raises questions about the future leadership of the division during a time of mounting workload and scrutiny.
The Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr, paid tribute to her departing colleague, praising her “excellence and resilience”. Baroness Carr noted that Dame Victoria had set the standard for leadership during a period of intense challenge. “We thank her for her tireless contribution,” she stated, acknowledging the sheer weight of responsibility Dame Victoria has carried for over a decade.
Dame Victoria’s career trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. Called to the Bar in 1979, she took silk in 2001 and rose rapidly through the ranks. From Presiding Judge on the Western Circuit to Lady Justice of Appeal, her ascent culminated in her appointment as President in 2019, succeeding Sir Brian Leveson.