Reed’s retirement continues the trend of senior judicial figures announcing they are stepping down in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, master of the rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos announced he will retire in October, followed this week by Dame Victoria Sharp, president of the King’s Bench division, signalling she would step down in October.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the family division, said in October he will leave his post this Easter.

Gazette columnist Joshua Rozenberg wrote in his Substack blog earlier this week that the rush of departures created a ‘huge challenge’ for the Judicial Appointments Commission.