Common Serjeant of London


The Common Serjeant of London is an ancient British legal office, first recorded in 1291, and is the second most senior permanent judge of the Central Criminal Court after the Recorder of London, acting as deputy to that office, and sitting as a judge in the trial of criminal offences.
He is also one of the High Officers of the City of London Corporation, and must undertake certain civic obligations alongside his judicial duties: each Midsummer he presides at the election of Sheriffs in the Guildhall, and each Michaelmas he plays a key role in the ceremonial election of the Lord Mayor. He presents the Sheriffs to the Queen's Remembrancer at the annual Quit Rents ceremony, and is in attendance on most other major ceremonial occasions.
The Common Serjeant is appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor.
Formerly, the Common Serjeant of London was a legal officer of the City Corporation of London. The Common Serjeant of London attended on the Lord Mayor of London and the Court of Aldermen on court days, and acted with them in council. He also attended the Court of Aldermen and Common Council, and had charge of the Orphans' Estates
The 81st incumbent is His Honour Judge Richard Marks, QC, who was appointed on 3 March 2015.

Incomplete List of Common Serjeants