New appointment to the UK Supreme Court

Dame Ingrid Simler, Lady Justice of Appeal, is appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by Lord Kitchin's retirement, it was announced today.

His Majesty The King made this appointment on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, following the recommendations of and independent selection commission.

The commission consulted across each of the Supreme Court's three United Kingdom jurisdictions before making its recommendations.

Welcoming the announcement, the President of the Supreme Court, The Right Hon The Lord Reed of Allermuir said:

"I am delighted to welcome Lady Justice Simler as a Justice to the Supreme Court.

She will bring exceptional experience and ability to the Court following a distinguished career as a barrister and Judge. Her experience in employment law, tax, public law and criminal law will be highly valuable to the Supreme Court and will further strengthen us as a world-leading Court."

Lady Justice Simler

Dame Ingrid Simler was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1987, having read law at Cambridge University, and completed a post-graduate diploma in EU law at the Europa Institute, University of Amsterdam. She practised at the Bar at Devereux Chambers (where she became Head of Chambers before becoming a judge). She was appointed to the Attorney General's Civil Panel A in 2001 and as Junior Counsel to the Inland Revenue (Common Law) in 2002. She took silk in 2006.

In 2002 she was appointed Recorder on the South East circuit. She was appointed as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2010.

She became a Judge of the High Court (Queen's Bench Division, now King's Bench Division) in October 2013. In January 2015 she was appointed President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal for a three year term which ended on 31 December 2018.

Having served as High Court Liaison Judge for Diversity she was appointed chair of the Diversity Committee of the Judges' Council in 2019. She is also a member of the Civil Executive Team chaired by the Deputy Head of Civil Justice, reporting to the Master of the Rolls.

She was sworn in as a Lady Justice of the Court of Appeal in June 2019.

Lady Justice Simler is married with four children.

This appointment follows the retirement of Lord Kitchin.

Notes to Editors

The appointment was announced today by 10 Downing Street. The official announcement can be viewed on the GOV.UK website via the following link:
A detailed description of the appointments process for Justices is available on the Supreme Court website via the following link:
Further details about the application process, available on the
Lord Kitchin retired on 29 September 2023. He and Lord Burnett of Maldon joined the Supplementary Panel on 2 October 2023.