Alexia Durran

Her Honour
Judge Durran
Chief Coroner of England and Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office
25 May 2024
Preceded byThomas Teague
Personal details
Born
Alexia Grainne Durran

1971 (age 53–54)
Alma materSt Catharine's College, Cambridge
University of Westminster

Alexia Grainne Durran (born 1971) is a British barrister, judge and coroner. Since May 2024, she has been the Chief Coroner of England and Wales.[1] Having been called to the bar in 1995, she was made a circuit judge in 2014 and deputy chief coroner in 2019.[2]

Early life and education

Durran was born in 1971.[3] She was educated at Lady Manners School, a comprehensive school in Bakewell, Derbyshire.[3] She studied English at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1992.[3][4] She completed the Common Professional Examination via University of Westminster.[3]

Durran was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1995.[3][5] She then practiced as a criminal law barrister and belonged the 23 Essex Street chambers.[2] On 23 October 2009, she was appointed as a recorder, a type of part-time judge.[6]

On 6 November 2014, Durran was made a circuit judge, thereby becoming a full-time member of the judiciary;[7] she sat at Guildford Crown Court.[8] Additionally, she was made a tribunal judge, specialising in mental health cases, in 2017,[2] and then also appointed one of two deputy chief coroners in January 2019.[8] On 5 July 2021, she was promoted to senior circuit judge, based at the Central Criminal Court (i.e. the Old Bailey).[5] On 25 May 2024, she was appointed Chief Coroner of England and Wales for a three-year term.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Appointment of new Chief Coroner". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Former member of 23 Essex Street, HHJ Alexia Durran , is appointed as a Deputy Chief Coroner". 23es. 23 Essex Street. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Durran, Alexia Grainne, (born 10 July 1971), a Circuit Judge, since 2014; a Senior Circuit Judge, since 2021; Deputy Chief Coroner, since 2019". Who's Who 2024. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  4. ^ St Catharine's College [@Catz_Cambridge] (29 May 2024). "We are proud that Catz alumna Her Honour Judge Alexia Durran (1989, English) has been appointed as Chief Coroner of England and Wales – the first woman to hold this position. Read more: https://judiciary.uk/appointments-and-retirements/appointment-of-new-chief-coroner-2/ 📸: Christine Matthews, http://Geograph.com#CambridgeAlumni" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b "Appointment as a Senior Circuit Judge, Central Criminal Court: Durran". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  6. ^ "No. 59230". The London Gazette. 2 November 2009. pp. 18851–18852.
  7. ^ "No. 61045". The London Gazette. 11 November 2014. p. 21862.
  8. ^ a b "Deputy Chief Coroner appointments". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 14 January 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2024.