His Honour Judge Christopher Kinch

Young Citizens Ambassador

His Honour Judge Christopher Kinch has been the Resident Judge at the Crown Court at Woolwich since 2013. Located near HMP Belmarsh, his court is the location for the trial of some of the most serious criminal cases including the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit burglary. Before his appointment Chris had spent many years in practice as a barrister including 13 years as a silk (QC) prosecuting or defending in cases of murder, fraud and other serious crimes. He served as Head of Chambers at 23 Essex Street and as Chair of the Criminal Bar Association in 2010-11.

His interest in professional education led to a term as the CBA’s Director of Education and also to appointment as a tutor judge at the Judicial College helping to train other judges. He was first recruited as a barrister helper for the Bar Mock Trial Competition by Anthony Hooper QC as he then was in the early 1990s and has been involved with the competition as helper, judge, case writer and organiser ever since. He has also chaired the competition working party and served as a Trustee of the Citizenship Foundation until 2015. He is a governor at a school in Croydon.