Sir Nicholas Wall

Sir Nicholas Wall is an English judge and the current President of the Family Division of the High Court. Wall served as a High Court Judge between 1993-2004 and a Lord Justice of Appeal between 2004-2010. He was appointed President of the Family Division in April 2010.

Wall was called to the bar (Gray's Inn) in 1969, was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988 and became a Recorder in 1990. He was appointed a High Court Judge attached to the Family Division in 1993. In 2004 he became a Lord Justice of Appeal and in 2010 was appointed as President of the Family Division, replacing Sir Mark Potter.

Wall's appointment led to a stand-off lasting months between the appointments panel and Justice Secretary Jack Straw. The appointment panel, led by Lord Phillips, recomended Walls for the role, but Straw asked the panel to reconsider. They did, but again suggested appointing Walls, Straw was entitled to exercise a veto at this point, but declined to do so. It is widely believed that the tensions were caused due to criticisms Walls had made of the Government in relation to family law, although this is unclear as the Government were entitled to ask for a reconsideration without disclosing any reasons.