St John’s Buildings chambers has seen two barristers appointed as district judges, with Abigail Hickinbottom appointed to the North Eastern Circuit, and Magdalen Case to join the Northern Circuit.
In recent years Hickinbottom has specialised in family law, and she also has experience in civil litigation including personal injury claims. She was called to the Bar in 2004 and appointed a deputy district judge in 2015. She will be based at Sheffield Combined Court Centre, and will also sit at Doncaster and Great Grimsby County Courts.
As a district judge for the Northern Circuit, Case will be based at Blackburn County and Family Court. A barrister in family law, with a particular specialism in children’s cases, Case also has substantial Court of Protection experience. She was called to the Bar in 1992 and appointed as a deputy district judge in 2015.
This is the latest in a series of judicial appointments for barristers’ chambers St John’s Buildings. In March, Robert McGinty was appointed district judge to the Midlands Circuit, with Rachael Harrison appointed as a circuit judge at Sheffield Crown Court in January. David Pojur was appointed assistant coroner for North Wales in February.
District Judge Hickinbottom commented: “I am delighted to be appointed as a district judge of the North Eastern Circuit. I am sure that my years of experience in practice as a barrister will be invaluable in dealing with the challenges that my new role will bring.”
District Judge Case said: “It’s a true accolade to be appointed as district judge for the Northern Circuit. I was particularly pleased to be deployed to sit at Blackburn County and Family Court where I will able to make full use of the expertise in family law that I have grown at chambers. St John’s Buildings has a stellar reputation for producing highly skilled members of the judiciary, and I am very proud to be a small part of that tradition.”
Chris Ronan, chief executive at St John’s Buildings, said of their appointments: “We are extremely pleased to see two excellent barristers appointed as district judges. Both Abigail and Magdalen have outstanding reputations in their fields of expertise, due to their superb service and extensive knowledge. They are truly deserving of their respective appointments, and we wish them all the very best for the future.”
Pictured, from left to right: Magdalen Case and Abigail Hickinbottom
