| Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
| Mr Justice Sweeting | |
| Office: | Justice of the High Court |
| Term Start: | 11 January 2022 |
| Appointer: | Elizabeth II |
| Birth Place: | United Kingdom |
| Nationality: | British |
| Alma Mater: | Clare College, Cambridge Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
Sir Derek Anthony Sweeting is a British High Court judge.[1]
Sweeting grew up in Greater London, attending a state school and later studying law at Clare College, Cambridge.[2]
Before undertaking his Law degree, he served in the British Army for 1 year. He trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was deployed to West Germany as a Tank Commander. Upon completion of his studies in Cambridge, he enlisted as a Reservist in the Special Air Service (SAS).
Sweeting was called to the Bar in 1983 by Middle Temple[3] and was appointed King's Counsel in 2001.[4]
Before becoming a High Court judge, he practiced at the Barristers' chambers ‘7BR’.[5]
He was appointed as Chair of the Bar council in 2021 until 2022.[6]
In April 2021, Sweeting questioned whether the term 'BAME' (Black, Asian, and Minority ethnic) could "disguise the fact that there's massive under-representation of black members of our community at the bar".[7]
Sweeting was appointed as a Recorder in the Crown Court and County Court on 15 March 2002.[8]
On 11 January 2022, Sweeting was appointed as a High Court Judge. He was assigned to the King's Bench Division by the Lord Chief Justice. He received his customary Knighthood in July 2023, at Windsor Castle.[9]