As Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey spent five years as head of civil justice and second most senior judge in England and Wales. He took a keen interest in emerging technologies, regularly discussing the impact on the legal system of blockchain, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies and other developments in the many speeches he delivered during his tenure. He championed the work of the county courts, visiting more than 100 to better understand the experiences of court staff and users.
He was appointed to the High Court in 2009 and, in 2013, to the Court of Appeal, where he delivered the judgment in the landmark case of Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, holding the courts have authority to compel parties to attend mediation.
Sir Geoffrey said: ‘I am proud of the advances we have made over the years in digitalisation, reducing paper-dependency in civil justice and improving access to justice for all.’
