Eleri Rees Explained

Honorific Prefix:Her Honour Judge
Eleri Rees
Term Start1:18 June 2012
Term Start2:18 June 2012
Birth Name:Eleri Mair Morgan
Birth Date:1953 7, df=y
Nationality:Welsh
Spouse:Alan Rees
Mawards:is not set -->

Eleri Mair Rees (née Morgan; born 7 July 1953) is a Welsh judge. Since 18 June 2012, she has been the Resident Judge of Cardiff Crown Court and Recorder of Cardiff. She has been a circuit judge since 2002. She was called to the bar in 1975, and served as a Justices' clerk from 1983 to 1994 and as a stipendiary magistrate (later renamed District Judge (Magistrates' Courts)) between 1994 and 2002.

Early life and education

Rees was born on 7 July 1953. She was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School, a grammar school in Aberystwyth, Wales. She studied law at the University of Liverpool, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.[1]

Legal career

In 1975, Rees was called to the bar at Gray's Inn. As was common for the time, she struggled to find a pupillage.[2] Instead of practising as a barrister, she joined the Magistrates' Courts Service. From 1983 to 1994, she served as a justices' clerk at Bexley Magistrates' Court in London.

On 3 May 1994, Rees became a Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate: this was a legally qualified, professional magistrate who could sit alone to hear cases. She was appointed a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) in 1992.[3] In 1998, she was additionally appointed an Assistant Recorder, a part-time circuit judge. Due to the Access to Justice Act 1999, Stipendiary Magistrate were renamed District Judges (Magistrates' Courts).

On 18 July 2000, Rees was appointed a Recorder of the Midland and Oxford Circuit.[4] On 23 April 2002, she was appointed a Circuit Judge.[5] She has also been the Liaison Judge for the Welsh Language since 2002. On 18 June 2012, she was promoted to Senior Circuit Judge, and appointed Resident Judge of Cardiff Crown Court and Recorder of Cardiff.[6]

Personal life

In 1975, the then Eleri Morgan married Alan Rees.

Notes and References

  1. 'REES, Eleri Mair', Who's Who 2017, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 2016 accessed 11 Oct 2017
  2. Web site: Eleri Rees. Judicial Appointments Commission. 11 October 2017.
  3. News: Legal news: appointments and retirements. 11 October 2017. The Times. 13 June 2012.
  4. News: Crown Office. 11 October 2017. The London Gazette. 55921. 24 July 2000.
  5. News: Crown Office. 11 October 2017. The London Gazette. 56557. 2 May 2002. 5385.
  6. Web site: Senior Circuit Judge Appointment – Rees. Ministry of Justice. 11 October 2017. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130206032956/http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/judicial-appointments/judicial-110612-051/. 6 February 2013. 11 June 2012.