THE first British Bangladeshi to be appointed as the High Court judge of England and Wales was Justice Akhlaq Ur-Rahman Choudhury.
Some of his judgments in recent years have made headlines.
In February 2023, he overruled a council’s policy on lap dancing and strip clubs, which allowed an unlimited number of sexual entertainment venues in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Choudhury said, “the woman – a survivor of domestic and sexual abuse and suffers complex post-traumatic stress disorder and who the court ordered could not be identified – was “deeply concerned” about the impact of such venues on the wellbeing and safety of women.”
“She believes they “contribute to the objectification of women, and to a climate in which women are routinely subjected to sexual and domestic violence, harassment and discrimination”.
“Regrettably … the defendant has consistently downplayed and/or sidelined sex equality-based concerns which ought to have been the subject of conscientious consideration before reaching a final decision.”
In 2021, Choudhary ruled in favour of Maya Forstater whose contract was not renewed after tweeting that trans women are males.
Forstrater drew support from Harry Potter's JK Rowling over the case.
Choudhury said Forstater’s views were covered by freedom of belief protections in the Equality Act, even though they might be offensive to some and could potentially lead trans people to be harassed.
“This judgment does not mean that those with gender-critical beliefs can ‘misgender’ trans persons with impunity,” he said.
In another notable judgment at the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT), Page vs Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice, he upheld the removal of a magistrate who had objected on religious grounds to children being adopted by same-sex couples and was ultimately removed from office following a BBC interview about the matter, noting that the statements made during interview demonstrated a lack of impartiality.
Choudhury is often invited to seminars and universities for talks on judiciary and, especially, how diversity is impacting the legal profession in the UK.
On being a judge, he said: “The best thing can also be the most daunting: having the responsibility and power to make decisions that will have a direct bearing on people’s lives.”
He is said to be “highly appreciated amongst his peers for his depth of knowledge, leadership skills and amicable nature”.
Choudhury has a simple mantra for legal professionals aspiring to become judges: “Don’t hesitate”.
Appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2015, he proved his mettle as a deputy high court judge since 2016, before being named among five new high court judges in August 2017.
In 2017, he was made Knight Bachelor on appointment, becoming the first British-Bangladeshi and Muslim to be appointed to the High Court of Justice.
Choudhury’s parents had migrated to the UK before the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. His late father, Azizur Rahman Choudhury, ran a restaurant business and was a community leader in Glasgow.
After graduating in physics from University of Glasgow, Choudhury did his law degree at the University of London.
Initially assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division, Choudhury served as the president of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) from 2019 to 2021.
