10 Facts About Richard McCombe

Richard McCombe was called to the Bar in 1975 and elected a bencher in 1996.

Richard McCombe was second junior counsel to the Director-General of Fair Trading from 1982 to 1987, when he became first junior counsel, serving until 1989.

Richard McCombe became an Assistant Recorder in 1993 and a Recorder in 1996.

Richard McCombe was appointed a Deputy High Court judge in 1999.

Richard McCombe was appointed to the High Court on 11 January 2001, Receiving the customary knighthood, and was assigned to the Queen's Bench Division.

Richard McCombe served as Presiding Judge on the Northern Circuit from 2004 to 2007 and Chair of the Association of High Court Judges from 2008 to 2009.

Richard McCombe retired from the Court of Appeal with effect from 27 January 2021.

Richard McCombe was the presiding judge in the case concerning elderly torture victims in the Mau Mau Uprising, in which McCombe repeatedly ruled in their favour against the British government, paving the way for their eventual compensation.

Richard McCombe presided over the trial of Sharon Matthews and Michael Donovan for the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews in 2008.

Sir Richard McCombe is married to Jill Black, Lady Black of Derwent, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.