Judge Jonathan Rose is Honorary Recorder of Bradford

His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose said he was “very humbled and very proud” to receive the honour.

A Circuit Judge based at Bradford Crown Court since 2008, he was appointed Resident Judge at Bradford Crown Court last October.

The ceremonial role of Honorary Recorder, which develops links between local authorities and the judiciary, is awarded by Bradford Council to a judge who sits at the Crown Court within its domain.

It is a four-year tenureship.

Judge Rose takes over from his predecessor, His Honour Judge Richard Mansell KC, who has retired.

'A bond between myself and the city' 

The formal swearing-in ceremony on Friday in the Council Chamber at Bradford City Hall was attended by Judge Rose’s wife, Philippa, his son, daughter, and son-in-law, as well as fellow judges, barristers, court staff, and civic leaders including the Lord Mayor of Bradford, and Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Gill Arnold. 

Judge Rose told the T&A: “I have worked in the legal system in Bradford for most of my working life. To be granted this honour by the council is not just a privilege, it is a bond between myself as a lawyer and the city.

“Also, it is an opportunity for me to make a contribution to the city from a legal perspective.

“I am very humbled and very proud.”

There were a multitude of tributes to Judge Rose from the Lord Mayor, senior council officers, fellow judges, barristers, and his family.

His Honour Judge Stephen Wood KC, speaking on behalf of the Bar, said Judge Rose was the sixth member of the judiciary to be appointed as Honorary Recorder, which he described as “a crucial civic role linking the courts to the people that we serve".

Judge Jonathan Rose has been officially installed as the Honorary Recorder of Bradford (Image: Newsquest)

He said Judge Rose was variously formidable, exceptional, and innovative.

His Honour Judge Jonathan Gibson KC, who has known Judge Rose since the 1980s, said: “He is held in very high regard by all of his professional colleagues” and provided “excellent leadership” for the judiciary in the city.

Saf Salam, speaking on behalf of the Bradford Law Society, said Judge Rose had a reputation for being “firm but fair” and paid a personal tribute to him as mentor, colleague, and good friend.

And Sam Rose, speaking on behalf of his “immensely proud” family, described his father as a hard-working man who went “above and beyond” when dealing with matters of the law – but always made sure weekends were devoted to his family.

He described his father as “parent, friend, guide, and mentor”.

Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe  said having a strong relationship between the city and the judiciary “is a vital part of promoting confident and resilient communities". 

She added: “This makes the installation of the Honorary Recorder a very important occasion in the civic calendar in the life of the city.”

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Bev Mullaney, said: “We would like to thank Judge Richard Mansell KC for his service and look forward to welcoming His Honour Judge Jonathan Rose to our next civic event.”

'A privilege to be a part of Bradford's history' 

Born in Leeds and educated at the city’s Talbot Road and Roundhay Schools, Judge Rose later attended Preston Polytechnic, The Inns of Court School of Law, and Keble College, Oxford.

As Recorder of Bradford Judge Rose represents the face of the court to the citizens, and he remains keen to maintain the relationship between the court and the public.

On an educational basis he works with students from university-level upwards who spend five days with him seeing how the courts operate from a judge’s perspective, and visits schools and universities to speak on the role of the judiciary.

Judge Rose spoke of Bradford's 'proud and rich history' (Image: Newsquest)

In 2015 he set up a course called SPRUCE – Student Pre University Court Exposure – for Year 12 students aged 16-17 who are contemplating studying law at university, or following law.

This year’s event, in June, welcomed 86 students from Bradford, Halifax, and Wakefield for lectures and expert-led speaker sessions followed by Q&As.

In his speech in City Hall Judge Rose said he was “a child of Bradford if not by blood then certainly by marriage” as his wife’s roots were in the city.

He added: “Bradford has a proud and rich history.

“I am privileged to be one line in that history.”