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Master of the Rolls

The Master of the Rolls is the third most senior judge of England, the Lord Chancellor being first and the Lord Chief Justice being second. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal.

The title of the office derives from the fact that originally, the office-holder was a clerk responsible for keeping the "Rolls," or records, of the Chancery court. The post eventually evolved into a judicial one, but the Master still retained his clerical functions by serving as the nominal head of the Public Record Office up until 1958. However the Public Records Act of that year transferred responsibility for the PRO from the Master of the Rolls to the Lord Chancellor.

The Master of the Rolls is also responsible for registering solicitors, who are officers of the Supreme Court.

The present Master of the Rolls is the Lord Philips of Worth Matravers .

Masters of the Rolls, 1286-present
01-04-2007 01:30:44
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