Malta-born Sir Igor Judge is to be conferred with a life peerage by the Queen following his appointment as Lord Chief Justice.

Sir Igor will be granted the title of Baron. Life peerages are created each year by the Queen for distinguished people.

Sir Igor, who will be known as Baron Judge, will take over as head of the judiciary in England and Wales on October 1, succeeding Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers.

Born in Malta to a Maltese mother and English father in the middle of a bombing raid during World War II, Sir Igor lived on the island until the age of 13. He was educated at St Edward's College, the Oratory School in Woodcote, UK, and Magdalene College, Cambridge.

He was called to the bar in 1963, appointed judge in 1988, promoted to the Court of Appeal in 1996 and became a Privy Councillor. Sir Igor was Lord Justice of Appeal from 1996 to 2005; Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales 1998 to 2003 and Deputy Chief Justice of England and Wales 2003 to 2005. Sir Igor has been President of the Queen's Bench Division since 2005.

When news of Sir Igor's appointment as Lord Chief Justice was announced, Lord Philips had said: "I can think of no-one better suited than Sir Igor to take on the responsibilities of the post. His excellent leadership qualities, displayed in senior judicial posts over the past decade, will stand him, and all judges, in great stead when he takes over."

On his part, Sir Igor has pledged to continue sitting regularly in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division. He also said he was "utterly committed" to upholding judicial independence.

"The principle is deeply imbedded in our history and our culture and, in the public interest, it must not be undermined or damaged inadvertently or by neglect."