The announcement was made today, 6th October 2026. Lord Hamblen, who has served as a Justice of the Supreme Court since January 2020, will conclude his tenure next autumn.
Educated at St John's College, University of Oxford and Harvard Law School, Lord Hamblen was called to the Bar in 1981. He practised at the Commercial Bar for over two decades before being appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997. His judicial career progressed through appointments as an Assistant Recorder and Recorder, before he sat as a Justice in the High Court from November 2008, serving as a nominated Commercial Court Judge. He was elevated to the Court of Appeal as a Lord Justice in February 2016.
“"It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The variety of the work and its importance, both nationally and internationally, mean that it is uniquely challenging and rewarding. It has also been an honour to help in the valuable work carried out by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Above all, I have enjoyed sitting with - and learning from - my colleagues in what has been an extremely collaborative period for the Court."
Following Lord Hamblen's retirement, the Lord Chancellor is expected to establish an independent Selection Commission to identify his successor. Further details regarding the role of a Justice and the application process are available on the Supreme Court website, which also features interviews with current and former Justices.
