He championed transparency and media access in the family court, culminating in a reporting pilot in 2023 and national rollout last year. This allowed media reporting with appropriate safeguards on issues previously shrouded in secrecy.
He kept the family courts working through the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully adapting to digital hearings in a highly sensitive area of law. Last month saw the launch of another groundbreaking initiative, the Child Focused Court, which aims to reduce the number of hearings and improve outcomes for survivors of domestic abuse.
Sir Andrew grew up in Solihull and on Merseyside, attended Durham University, was called to the Bar in 1977, took silk in 1998 and was appointed a High Court Judge (Family Division) in 2005 and Lord Justice of Appeal in 2011.
