Lord Hamblen will retire from the Supreme Court and Privy Council in September 2027.
Lord Hamblen retirement has been announced, with the Supreme Court Justice set to leave the Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on 30 September 2027.
The announcement was made on 6 October 2026. Lord Hamblen became a Justice of the Supreme Court in January 2020 and will continue to serve in the role until his planned retirement date.
His retirement will bring to an end a judicial career that has included senior positions in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as extensive experience at the Commercial Bar.
Lord Hamblen was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1981. He practised at the Commercial Bar from 1982 until 2008 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997. During the early part of his judicial career, he served as an Assistant Recorder from 1999 and became a Recorder in 2000.
He was appointed to the High Court in November 2008. During his time on the High Court, he served as a nominated Commercial Court Judge. His judicial career subsequently progressed to the Court of Appeal, where he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal in February 2016.
Lord Hamblen joined the Supreme Court in January 2020. Since then, he has served as one of the Justices responsible for deciding cases coming before the UK’s highest court.
Announcing his decision to retire, Lord Hamblen said that serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court had been both a pleasure and a privilege. He referred to the variety and importance of the Court’s work, including its national and international significance.
He also highlighted his involvement with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The JCPC considers appeals from a number of jurisdictions and operates alongside the Supreme Court, with Justices of the Supreme Court also sitting on the Committee.
Lord Hamblen said he had particularly valued working with his fellow Justices during what he described as an extremely collaborative period for the Court.
The announcement therefore provides advance notice of a change in the membership of the Supreme Court. Lord Hamblen will remain in office until 30 September 2027, meaning his retirement is not immediate and he will continue his judicial duties during the period leading up to his departure.
The process for appointing his successor is also expected to begin. The Supreme Court has said that the Lord Chancellor is expected to convene an independent Selection Commission to appoint the next Justice.
The appointment process is separate from Lord Hamblen’s decision to retire and will determine who succeeds him once his service comes to an end. The Court has also provided information explaining the role of a Supreme Court Justice and the application process for prospective candidates.
For the legal profession, the announcement marks a forthcoming change at the UK’s highest court. However, Lord Hamblen remains a serving Justice until the stated retirement date, so the announcement does not itself bring his current judicial work to an immediate end.
The Supreme Court has confirmed that Lord Hamblen’s retirement from both the Supreme Court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is planned for 30 September 2027.
The Lord Hamblen retirement announcement follows more than four decades since he was called to the Bar and reflects the progression of his career from commercial practice to some of the UK’s most senior judicial positions.
Until his retirement takes effect, Lord Hamblen will continue as a Justice of the Supreme Court. The appointment of his successor will be handled through the independent selection process expected to be convened by the Lord Chancellor.