Mr Justice [Adrian] Colton was called to the Bar in 1983 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2006. He specialised in high value personal injury claims acting for both plaintiffs and defendants as well as being engaged in a significant number of clinical negligence claims on behalf of plaintiffs. He also was involved in many criminal trials including cases of murder, manslaughter, terrorist cases, significant fraud claims and cases of driving causing death.
Mr Justice Colton was Chairman of the Bar Council from 2009-2011. It was during this term of office that he established the Advocacy Training Board. He also mentored a significant number of pupil barristers. From 2013 he was Co-Chairman of the Forum for Barristers and Advocates within the International Bar Association.
Mr Justice Colton was appointed as a High Court Judge in Northern Ireland on 7 September 2015. In February 2016, the Lord Chief Justice appointed him Presiding Coroner for Northern Ireland in which he had responsibility for providing leadership and oversight to the legacy inquests concerning controversial killings in Northern Ireland.
Mr Justice Colton was appointed Judge in Residence at the University of Ulster in May, 2016. In September 2017 Mr Justice Colton was appointed Senior Criminal Judge.