In Memoriam

The Rt Hon the Lord Etherton GBE KC PC

In January 2001 he was appointed as the first openly gay judge to serve in the High Court after failing in his earlier attempts to be appointed due to his sexual orientation. He became Chair of the Law Commission in 2006 and a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008. He was appointed Chancellor of the High Court in 2013 and served as Master of the Rolls from October 2016 to December 2020. In recognition of his unwavering commitment to justice and equality, he was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the 2024 Birthday Honours for his services to LGBTQ+ veterans.