Honorary King’s Counsel role for canon law professor

His Majesty The King has appointed a School of Law and Politics Professor as a new Honorary King’s Counsel (KC Honoris Causa).

Announced in January 2024, Professor of Law, Norman Doe, will be appointed as an Honorary KC by The Lord Chancellor at Westminster Hall in March 2024 alongside 4 other Honorary KCs. Honorary KCs are awarded to those who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales, outside practice in the courts. 95 barristers and solicitors will also be appointed as new King’s Counsel (KC) in England and Wales on the same date.

Professor Doe has taught at Cardiff University since 1985 and boasts an extensive and prolific academic CV. He is the founding Director of the Centre for Law and Religion, which began at the school in 1998, and is also the founder of the school’s Canon Law programme (LLM) which started in 1991.

Professor Doe was nominated for the honorary KC role due to his work in reviving the study of Ecclesiastical Law in England and Wales. His publications on the subject have been highly influential, being cited in decisions relating to the constitutional role of the Church of England and contributing to the revision of clergy discipline procedures.

Speaking of his appointment, Professor Doe said, “I am deeply privileged to be honoured in this way as one of many involved in reviving studies in ecclesiastical law over recent years. The award also provides me with the stimulus to enhance further my work in the interaction between law and religion. It is a field in which Cardiff University and my many colleagues associated with the LLM in Canon Law and the Centre for Law and Religion have excelled, and for all their hard work, support and loyalty for such a long time I am extremely grateful”.

Further information on this year’s KC appointments can be found on gov.co.uk