Sir Nicholas Richard Maybury Hilliard (born 1 May 1959)[1] is a British judge who was the Recorder of London, an ancient and senior legal post at the Old Bailey, and before that Common Serjeant of London, the Recorder's second. He was appointed to that office in May 2013. From 6 January 2015 he was Recorder of London, the senior judge at the Old Bailey.[2] In October 2019 it was announced that was to be appointed as a judge of the High Court of Justice. He took up that appointment on 19 November 2019 [3] ceasing to be Recorder of London.
Mr Justice Hilliard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| High Court Judge King's Bench Division | |
| Assumed office 2019 | |
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II |
| Recorder of London | |
| In office 2015–2019 | |
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Brian Barker |
| Succeeded by | Mark Lucraft |
| Common Serjeant of London | |
| In office 2013–2015 | |
| Preceded by | Brian Barker |
| Succeeded by | Richard Leon Marks QC |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nicholas Richard Maybury Hilliard 1 May 1959 |
| Residence(s) | London, United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | Bradfield College, Berkshire. Lincoln College, Oxford. |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Profession | Barrister |
Early life and education
editHilliard was educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire, and Lincoln College, Oxford. He was Called to the Bar in 1981, and was appointed as a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 2003.[4]
Career
editIn 1995, Hilliard was appointed Treasury Counsel at the Central Criminal Court and served in that capacity until 2008 when he was appointed Senior Treasury Counsel. In 2001 he was appointed as a recorder of the Crown Court and in 2003 became a Master of the Bench at the Middle Temple. Hilliard was Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association from 2005 to 2006. Hilliard was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2008.[5][6] In that year he led the prosecution of the murderers of Ben Kinsella.
Prosecutor
editIn 2003, he led the prosecution of the case of R v Ingram, C., Ingram, D. and Whittock, T. In 2011, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, he unsuccessfully prosecuted Jonathan Rees for the 1987 murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, who had been examining police corruption. Hilliard acknowledged the police could not be relied upon to ensure access to documents that the defence might require and the prosecution was fatally undermined as a result and Rees was discharged.[7]
Judicial career
editHilliard was appointed a Senior Circuit Judge in 2012, making him the Resident Judge on the South Eastern Circuit, based at Woolwich Crown Court.[8] He was subsequently appointed to the Common Serjeant of London and Recorder of London roles before he was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Justice in November 2019.[9]
He has been a contributing editor to Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice since 1994.
Honourable appointments and charity
editHilliard is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers.[10]
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ Hilliard, Nicholas Richard Maybury. Who's Who 2019. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U42763. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Warrants Under the Royal Sign Manual | the Gazette".
- ^ "High Court Judge Appointment". www.judiciary.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
- ^ 'Masters of the Bar' on the Middle Temple website
- ^ Hilliard on the Association of Commonwealth Criminal Lawyers website[usurped]
- ^ Legal news: appointments - The Times 21 June 2012
- ^ Vikram Dodd and Sandra Laville "Scotland Yard admits Daniel Morgan's killers shielded by corruption - Victim's family attack criminal justice system after admission that defendants could not be guaranteed fair trial", guardian.co.uk, 11 March 2011, accessed 17 July 2011
- ^ Senior Circuit Judge Appointment - Hilliard QC - Ministry of Justice website
- ^ "High Court Judge Appointment".
- ^ Hilliard on the Worshipful Company of Feltmakers website - 2012