A proposal to appoint His Honour Judge Roger Dutton QC as the new Honorary Recorder of Chester will go before Cheshire West and Chester Council next week.
The ceremonial role has been vacant since former Honorary Recorder His Honour Judge Elgan Edwards sadly passed away in January, following a long illness.
Judge Edwards had held the position since 1997 and was the UK’s longest serving circuit judge, presiding over some of Chester’s most high-profile cases.
The full council will consider a recommendation that Resident Judge at Chester Crown Court Judge Dutton fill the unpaid office – which was created to maintain close links between councils and the judiciary and to encourage an understanding of the judicial system among the community – when it meets on Thursday (July 21).
A report by Vanessa Whiting, director of governance at CWaC, states that the council’s proposal has already been met with approval by Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales Lord Justice Fulford and ‘fully endorsed’ by City of Chester Charter Trustees, who are responsible for preserving the historic rights and privileges of the Lord Mayor of Chester, the Sheriff of Chester and other civic traditions associated with Chester.
“Judge Dutton has been approached to seek an indication of his interest in the role and he has indicated that he would be delighted to accept the appointment,” wrote Ms Whiting.
