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Mark Lucraft, KC (born December 1961), is a British barrister and judge.

Serving since 2020 as Recorder of London, the most senior Circuit judge at the Old Bailey, Lucraft was Chief Coroner of England and Wales from 2016 to 2020.

Biography

Educated at Wood Green School, Lucraft read law at the University of Kent, graduating BA in 1983, before being called to the Bar in 1984. Appointed Recorder in 2003, he took silk (QC) in 2006, becoming a full-time judge in 2012 and was a Senior Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court ("Old Bailey") from 2015, where he was appointed as Resident Judge in April 2020. Prominent cases include a life sentence in 2024 for Fiona Beal, who murdered her partner Nicholas Billingham in 2021.

From 2016 to 2020, he was Chief Coroner of England and Wales, while continuing as an Old Bailey judge. As Chief Coroner, he presided over the inquests into the 2017 Westminster attack, the 2017 London Bridge and Borough Market attack, and the 2019 London Bridge stabbings.

In 2020, before relinquishing the role of Chief Coroner, he became Recorder of London, the senior judge at the Old Bailey. The roles were allowed to overlap due to the pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. By tradition, the Recorder of London is also appointed High Steward of Southwark, and Lucraft accordingly occupies this role. In October 2023, he ruled that the name and date of birth of the police officer who shot Chris Kaba could be made public on 30 January 2024.

General editor of Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice, an annual publication for practitioners of criminal law in the Crown Courts, Lucraft is a Liveryman of the Founders' Company and an Honorary Freeman of the Curriers' Company.

References

1. ^ "Law School alumnus is new Chief Coroner of England and Wales". Kent Law School News. University of Kent. 23 November 2016. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020.
2. A Day in the Life - HHJ Lucraft KC. UK Judiciary. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024 – via YouTube.
3. "Resident Judges". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022 – via Internet Archive.
4. "Northampton teacher admits killing partner buried in garden". BBC News. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
5. "Office of the Chief Coroner". UK Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
6. "Westminster attacker lawfully killed by minister's bodyguard, jury finds". The Guardian. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
7. "London Bridge Inquests". Retrieved 12 April 2021.
8. Dodd, Vikram (12 April 2021). "Security services and police to face questions over London Bridge attacker". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
9. ^ "Recorder of London appointed". UK Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
10. "Top Old Bailey judge heralds brave new world in criminal justice". www.shropshirestar.com. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
11. "City Officers". Livery Committee, City of London. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
12. "Guildable Manor of Southwark - Home Page". Guildable Manor. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
13. "Chris Kaba: Officer charged with murder to be named". BBC News. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
14. "Editorial Team | Archbold". Sweet & Maxwell. Retrieved 18 November 2024.

• 1961 births
• Living people
• Alumni of the University of Kent
• Circuit judges (England and Wales)
• English King's Counsel
• 21st-century King's Counsel
• Chief Coroners of England and Wales
• Recorders of London