HHJ James Tindal

An interesting few years in Worcester – Judge Jim Tindal

His Honour Judge James Tindal As I move on to pastures new (although as in September I return to Birmingham, in fairness there will be rather fewer pastures), I have been asked for a few thoughts about my time in Worcester, since January 2020 as Designated Civil Judge (‘DCJ’) for Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

This is particularly apt, as when I arrived in Worcester in January 2018 as a Criminal Circuit Judge, my new colleagues mercilessly ribbed me about a slightly painful local paper interview they found online for which a colleague in Shrewsbury Crown Court had volunteered me. I just managed to turn it into an explanation of sentencing, from what threatened to be a ‘Hello Magazine’-style exploration of my hobbies. The mickey-taking got worse in April 2019 when my prison sentence on a cricketer ended up as national frontpage news. It was a surreal morning at Bromsgrove train station warily hiding from fellow commuters holding papers emblazoned with my official be-wigged picture (thankfully no-one recognised me). However, as in Shrewsbury, in Worcester and Hereford, I was always struck by the quality, work-ethic and common-sense of local Criminal practitioners – both Barristers and Solicitors. I am also very grateful for wise advice of my Criminal colleagues, Judge Juckes QC and Judge Burbidge QC as my Resident Judges, Judge Cartwright, Judge Jackson, Judge Cole and DJ(MC) Strongman.

Whether because of or despite my ‘15 minutes of fame’, in August 2019, I was appointed as successor as DCJ to Judge Pearce-Higgins QC from January 2020. However, before I started what I anticipated would be an interesting new role (at that stage, I had no idea just how interesting), I started sitting in Family. This was in fact temporarily to ‘replace’ DJ McKenzie (if that could ever be possible, except by his actual replacement, DJ Solomon). As I developed my limited experience in Public and Private Law Children cases, it was clear that I was in the safest of hands. This was not only with my fantastic and gifted Family colleagues: the Designated Family Judge, Judge Plunkett (and Judge Cole with his other ‘hat’ on); DJs Khan, Gibson and Solomon; our beloved and much-missed colleague DJ Parry; and latterly DJ Saunders. When I have sat in Family, it has usually been with the familiar faces of local practitioners in front of me (whether on Skype, Teams or in person). As a relative newcomer in Family, there was nothing more important to me than trust in my advocates. We judges are very fortunate to have such excellent, skilful and reliable advocates as we have in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

When I started as DCJ in January 2020, I was equally keen to develop good working relationships with local Civil practitioners through re-starting the Civil Court User Group. I was genuinely pleased with the enthusiastic response and organised our first meeting on Monday 16th March 2020. I therefore accidentally had the dubious achievement of organising a meeting (I stress, not a party) at exactly the same time as social distancing measures were introduced by Boris Johnson (what a couple of years he has also had…). Over the following weeks and months, I could not have asked for more from my DJ colleagues and court staff, who all rolled up their sleeves, came into Court every day (not always the case elsewhere) and worked incredibly hard to keep Civil Justice going. Time and again, I was also grateful for the support of local practitioners, especially in relation to the complications of restarting possession when our usual tenant adviser retired. In the interim, local practitioners supported us by stepping in to advise pro-bono. Worcester University law students also facilitated remote advice, answering my call for help at the excellent Law Forum where I have been lucky enough to meet many impressive students. We all supported each other through the toughest times for Justice we have ever had. For that achievement – in all fields of work – I consider the lawyers, court staff and judges of Worcestershire and Herefordshire can be extremely proud. It is a tribute to the reputation of our local legal community that a number of excellent candidates applied to succeed me in my role (and I know I leave you in the safest of hands). I shall see some of you in my new role in the Business and Property Court in Birmingham. But to all of you whom I have had the pleasure of working with, thank you.

His Honour Judge Tindal

25 July 2022

Civil Circuit Judge appointment: Tindal

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon, has appointed His Honour Judge Tindal to be a Specialist Circuit Judge with effect from 5 September 2022.

The Lord Chief Justice has deployed him to the Midland Circuit, based at Birmingham Civil & Family Justice Centre.

Background Information

James Stuart Tindal will continue to be known as His Honour Judge Tindal. He was appointed as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Courts) and a Fee-paid Employment Judge in 2009, as a Recorder in 2012, a Circuit Judge in 2016 and as the Designated Civil Judge for Worcestershire and Herefordshire in 2019.