Her Honour Judge Stephanie Cope was appointed as the Designated Family Judge for Bristol, effective 11 March 2024, taking over from HHJ Stephen Wildblood KC, who retired in late 2023.
Her Honour Judge Cope was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1995 and called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 2008. She was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 2007, a District Judge in 2012 and as a Circuit Judge in 2020. She was authorised to sit as a High Court Judge in the Family Division under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 in 2023.
As DFJ, Judge Cope is the senior Circuit Judge responsible for family court work in Bristol and her remit covers the family courts in Bristol, Bath, Weston and Gloucester. She will be based at the court in Bristol.
For information, as a result of building works at the court in Taunton, many ‘Taunton’ hearings are currently taking place in Weston or Yeovil. The Designated Family Judge for Taunton is HHJ Kathryn Skellorn KC.
You can read more about the structure of the Family Court here.