Tribunal Staff 

The Tribunal comprises a team of experienced and qualified canon lawyers whose job is the promotion of matters of justice.  It is also concerned with the investigation and judgment of marriage cases for nullity.

Fr Simon Blakesley

Fr Simon Davies

The Judicial Vicar of the Diocese is Fr. Simon Blakesley (currently the Parish Priest of Newmarket) who was ordained in 1990 and qualified with a Licentiate (Masters Degree) in Canon Law from the University of St. Paul in Ottawa in 1991 since when he has been working for one day a week in the Marriage Tribunal.

The Adjunct Judicial Vicar of the Diocese is Fr Simon Davies, currently parish priest of Sheringham and Cromer who was ordained in 2019 and qualified with a Licentiate in Canon Law from the University of St. Paul in Ottawa in 2024, since when he has been working for one day a week in the Marriage Tribunal. 

Claire Roberts-Finch

The Tribunal Administrator is Mrs Claire Roberts-Finch. “Having worked in family law for over 20 years, I have gained valuable experience and appreciation for the sensitive nature of all family matters. I look forward to assisting those wishing to go through the nullity process and will do so with empathy.”

We have a team of Associate Judges and two of these are assigned to each case and, with the Judicial Vicar, will reach a decision at a Tribunal Hearing.

There are Defenders of the Bond one of whom will examine each case to check that all the rights of both parties have been upheld, and review all of the evidence that has been gathered to see whether the presumption of validity can reasonably be challenged. 

An Advocate may be appointed for either party and is someone who is skilled in matrimonial Canon Law, to make the best argument possible for that party.

Lay auditors gather witness evidence on our behalf.  They are mature Catholic parishioners who are professional people who may have taken early retirement and have the necessary inter-personal skills to conduct interviews.

Very occasionally we will seek the opinion of an expert (either a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist).  This can take the form of a report on the evidence alone, or, where a petitioner or respondent is willing, also on an interview with them.