Rabinder Singh QC sworn in as High Court judge

Britain's first Sikh judge of the High Court was sworn in at the Royal Courts of Justice this week.

Rabinder Singh QC becomes the first Asian and only the second lawyer from a Black and Minority Ethnic background to be promoted to the High Court. The 47-year-old follows in the footsteps of Dame Linda Dobbs, who has been a High Court judge since 2004.

Singh, who will wear his Turban during proceedings, is a colleague of Cherie Blair at Matrix Chambers and is known as a staunch defender of human rights. While he is seen as an inspiration to those from BME communities aspiring to enter the Law, Singh said he wants to be a role model and being judged not as a Sikh, but as a member of the judiciary.

"I am a barrister who happens to be a Sikh. I have always tried to be a role model, by the work I do. I haven't said, 'I'm a Sikh barrister, look at what I do'. I've just said, 'Look at what I do'. Everyone can see what I am."

Born in Bristol in 1964, Singh achieved a double first in law at the Trinity College University of Cambridge in 1985 and four years later he was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn and was one of the Junior Counsel to the Crown (A Panel) until he took silk in 2002.

In 2004, he successfully represented human rights group Liberty, in the House of Lords against the indefinite detention without trial of non-UK national suspected of terrorist activities.

A year later, Singh again was successful representing Liberty and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in the case against the UK government over the refusal of economic benefits to refugees.

Singh was also given the award of Human Rights Lawyer of the Year (JUSTICE/Liberty) in 2006 and in 2010 was Human Rights and Public Law Silk of the Year (Chambers Bar Awards).

Picture: Rabinder Singh