Junior barrister, 33, made a Crown Court judge

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By Katie King on

Anna Midgley is the youngest recorder in recent history

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A Bristol criminal barrister has been appointed as a Crown Court judge — and she’s only 33.

The appointment of Anna Midgley — Cambridge law grad and Albion Chambers barrister — will take effect from 11 January, making her the youngest criminal law judge in recent history.

The role of recorder is part-time, with appointees expected to sit for 30 days a year. Aside from the fact that a recorder will usually handle less complex or serious cases, their jurisdiction is similar to that of a circuit judge.

The appointment follows a long list of impressive achievements Midgley already has under her belt. After ranking seventh in the 2004 academic year at Cambridge, Midgley went on to study the Bar Vocational Course (now the Bar Professional Training Course) as a Middle Temple scholar, and was graded ‘Outstanding’. She was called to the bar in 2005, and was described by Legal 500 as “a very able junior who is ahead of her call” in 2011.

Legal Cheek has contacted the judicial office to find out if sexual offences law specialist Midgley — who also works as a lecturer — is in fact the youngest Crown Court judge ever, but it hasn’t been able to confirm our query.

However, our investigations have revealed that in 2013 Atlantic Chambers barrister Charlotte Hughes-Deane was appointed as a deputy district judge aged 32 year-old, but this is not a criminal law post.

The youngest person to sit on the Magistrates’ bench is 19 year-old law student Lucy Tate — who was appointed to the Pontefract bench in 2006 — though the position does not require prior legal qualification.