First openly gay judge to be appointed Chancellor of the UK's High Court

Lord Justice Terrence Etherton, the first senior judge to be in a civil partnership, has been appointed as Chancellor of the High Court, or head of the Chancery Division. The post is one of the most senior judicial roles in England and Wales.

He was called to the bar in 1974,  becoming a Queen's Counsel in 1990. He was appointed a High Court Judge on 11 January 2001 and assigned to the Chancery Division, receiving the customary knighthood. In August 2006, he was appointed Chairman of the Law Commission, the statutory independent body created to keep the law under review and to recommend reform where needed.

On 29 September 2008, he took the post of Lord Justice of Appeal and received the customary appointment to the Privy Council. On 20 December 2012, it was announced he had been appointed Chancellor of the High Court with effect from 11 January 2013. 

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/12/21/uk-first-openly-gay-judge-to-be-appointed-chancellor-of-the-high-court/

For more information on Sir Terence:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_Etherton