Judgitis

Judge Willis: 'What do you suppose I am on the Bench for, Mr Smith?' F.E. Smith: 'It is not for me to attempt to fathom the inscrutable workings of Providence.'

Writing in the Guardian of 3 February Joshua Rozenberg observed that Sir Peter Smith, 58, is the longest-serving judge in the Chancery Division and Sir William Charles, 62, is the third-most senior judge in the Family Division. But, Rozenberg observed, reaching the top of the list is not necessarily a badge of honour. It generally means that, for whatever reason, the judge has been passed over for promotion to the Court of Appeal. They have both recently suffered at the hands of their judicial brethren.