Heather Norton

The Honourable
Ms Justice Norton
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
Justice of the High Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 October 2025
Appointed byCharles III
Personal details
Born (1966-11-24) 24 November 1966

Dame Heather Sophia Norton (born 24 November 1966) is a British judge who is a justice of the High Court.

Biography

Norton grew up in Southern England and attended local state schools until she won a music scholarship to an independent school for sixth form.[1] She was the first in her family to attend university.[1] She was called to the Bar in 1988.[2] She practiced at 23ES Chambers and QEB Hollis Whiteman for 23 years.[3] She served as a Circuit Judge at the Crown Court at Canterbury, and later at Reading, becoming its Resident (lead) judge.[4] Norton was a Chair of the Competition Appeals Tribunal.[5] In 2024, she announced the refurbishment of Reading Crown Court.[6] As a judge she dealt with high profile trials including the murder of Olly Stephens,[7] the murder of Charlotte Huggins,[8] and the murder of Cameron Bailey.[9] She was appointed to the High Court in 2025.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "New Appointments of High Court Judges". Judicial Appointments Commission. 2025-09-20. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  2. ↑ "Lawyer becomes judge". Kent Online. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  3. ↑ "Judge Heather Norton orders arrest of man who failed to turn up at Canterbury Crown Court for jury service". 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Prestigious panel for first Law Question Time". News Centre - University of Kent. 2015-02-05. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  5. ↑ "Four new High Court judges named". mail.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk. 29 September 2025. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  6. ↑ "Crown court building 'could be getting revamp this year' - including new courtroom". Reading Chronicle. 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  7. ↑ "Sentence increased for girl who admitted manslaughter in Olly Stephens case". The Independent. 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  8. ↑ "Charlotte Huggins: Ex-boyfriend jailed for New Year's Day murder". BBC News. 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  9. ↑ "Teen jailed for 29 years for murdering Brighton boy". Brighton and Hove News. 2025-01-12. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  10. ↑ "New Judicial Lead on Youth Justice for England and Wales". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 2025-12-17. Retrieved 2026-07-12.

See also

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