Eleri Mair Rees (née Morgan; born 7 July 1953) is a Welsh judge. Since 18 June 2012, she has been the Resident Judge of Cardiff Crown Court and Recorder of Cardiff. She has been a circuit judge since 2002. She was called to the bar in 1975, and served as a Justices' clerk from 1983 to 1994 and as a stipendiary magistrate (later renamed District Judge (Magistrates' Courts)) between 1994 and 2002.
Rees was born on 7 July 1953. She was educated at Ardwyn Grammar School, a grammar school in Aberystwyth, Wales. She studied law at the University of Liverpool, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.[1]
In 1975, Rees was called to the bar at Gray's Inn.[1] As was common for the time, she struggled to find a pupillage.[2] Instead of practising as a barrister, she joined the Magistrates' Courts Service.[2] From 1983 to 1994, she served as a justices' clerk at Bexley Magistrates' Court in London.[1]
On 3 May 1994, Rees became a Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate: this was a legally qualified, professional magistrate who could sit alone to hear cases.[1][2][3] She was appointed a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) in 1992.[4] In 1998, she was additionally appointed an Assistant Recorder, a part-time circuit judge.[1][4] Due to the Access to Justice Act 1999, Stipendiary Magistrate were renamed District Judges (Magistrates' Courts).[1]
On 18 July 2000, Rees was appointed a Recorder of the Midland and Oxford Circuit.[4][5] On 23 April 2002, she was appointed a Circuit Judge.[6] She has also been the Liaison Judge for the Welsh Language since 2002.[1] On 18 June 2012, she was promoted to Senior Circuit Judge, and appointed Resident Judge of Cardiff Crown Court and Recorder of Cardiff.[1][4][7]
In 1975, the then Eleri Morgan married Alan Rees.[1]