Michael Stokes was born in 1948 and was educated at Leeds University, where he obtained an honours degree in law. He was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn (now a Bencher), lectured in law for two years at Nottingham University and then practised at the Bar in mainly criminal work until 2001. He became a QC in 1994 and a judge in 2001. Michael retired from the bench in August 2016 in the hope of becoming a successful author.