Deputy district judges such DDJ Nicholes are appointed by the Lord Chancellor after a fair and open competition administered by the Judicial Appointments Commission, and the statutory qualification is the same as that for appointment as a district judge – a minimum of five years’ right of audience in any part of the Supreme Court, or all proceedings in county courts or magistrates’ courts.
Deputy district judges sit on a fee-paid basis in the county courts and district registries of the High Court for between 15 and 50 days a year. In general their jurisdiction is the same as that of a district judge.
Appointments are for five years, and are automatically extended by the Lord Chancellor for further successive terms of five years – subject to the office holder’s agreement and the retirement age of 70.
In open court, Deputy District Judges wear a black coat with bands, a King’s Counsel’s or junior barrister’s gown with no wig.
Court Working Dress – Deputy District Judge
Deputy District Judge Chris Mills the only Disrict judge in the UK
Read more about DDJ Mills in our Dodgy Judges article.
Deputy District Judge Christopher Mills email address is ddj.christopher.mills@ejudiciary.net
Check out our articles on Dodgy Judges, His Honour Judge Melbourne Inman KC, His Honour Now His Dishonour, His Honour Judge Michael Slater, His Honour Judge Martin Davis, HHJ Farquhar, HHJ Bedford, DDJ Nicholes, Do you Have to Bow to a Judge ?, Can you Email a Judge ?, Can you Criticise a Judge ? and the highly dubious Sussex Family Justice Board.
The Ministry of Injustice is not the Ministry of Justice nor is it affiliated in any way with the justice system, legal profession or any law enforcement agencies.
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Deputy District Judge was last updated on the 8th July 2025
