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Nicola Davies (judge)

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The Right Honourable
Lady Justice Nicola Davies
DBE
Davies in 2017
Lady Justice of Appeal
Incumbent
Assumed office
2018
Justice of the High Court
In office
2010–2018
Personal details
Born
Nicola Velfor Davies

(1953-03-13) 13 March 1953 (age 71)
United Kingdom
Alma materBirmingham University

Dame Nicola Velfor Davies, DBE (born 13 March 1953)[1] is a British barrister and judge who is currently a Lady Justice of Appeal, to which she was appointed in 2018.[2] At the Bar she practised in medical law. She is referred to as Rt Hon Lady Justice Nicola Davies.

Early life

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Davies was born in Llanelli, Wales, and grew up in Bridgend. Her father, Eric Davies, was a chartered engineer who was employed by the Steel Company of Wales, and she has a younger brother called Jonathan. She was educated at Bridgend Girls' Grammar School (now closed), where she was the last head girl.[3] In 1971 she entered Birmingham University to read law.[citation needed]

Career

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After graduating, Davies worked briefly in a firm of solicitors before becoming an investment analyst in the City of London.[4] She later decided to become a barrister and did her second six-month pupillage at Carpmael Buildings, which later became 3 Serjeant's Inn. She was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1976.[3] As a young barrister acting as a junior counsel to the two doctors involved in the Cleveland child abuse cases, she became recognised as a medical specialist. She also became a member of the Treasury Panels.[citation needed]

In 1992, at the age of 39, she became a Queen's Counsel, and in 1998 she was appointed to sit as an Assistant Recorder.[3] She chaired two Inquiries. In 1998 Davies spent six months on the Bristol heart surgeon's case, then took on the defence of the doctor and serial killer Harold Shipman.[5]

In 2003, Davies was appointed as a deputy High Court judge. On judicial review she quashed a decision to close some National Health Service paediatric surgery units.[6] She was appointed a High Court judge in 2010.

In 2013 Davies was appointed as a Presiding Judge of the Wales Circuit between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017.[7]

Davies is an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University.[8]

She was sworn as a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in 2018.

In July 2021, Davies made legal history, chairing the first all-female Court of Appeal session in Wales, sitting alongside Mrs Justice Jefford and Mrs Justice Steyn.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Birthdays", The Guardian, p. 37, 13 March 2014
  2. ^ Judiciary of England & Wales, HM Government, 10 December 2012, archived from the original on 28 June 2018, retrieved 14 March 2014
  3. ^ a b c "Nicola Davies QC made High Court Judge and Dame of The British Empire". News. WalesOnline. 21 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Dame Nicola Davies". First 100 Years. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  5. ^ "In Defence of Shipman". BBC News. BBC. 31 January 2000. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Save Our Surgery Ltd, R (on the application of) v Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts [2013] EWHC 439 (Admin)". Bailii.org. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Appointment of New Presiding Judges". HM Government. 17 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Honorary Fellowships". Cardiff University. 15 July 2012. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  9. ^ Evans, Jason (29 July 2021). "Legal history being made in Swansea with first all-female Court of Appeal to sit in Wales". Wales Online.
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