THIS is the High Court judge who has been appointed to lead the Coroners Court.
Adrian Colton was sworn in as Presiding Coroner on Monday.
His appointment comes as the system struggles with a huge backlog that includes 56 legacy cases from the Troubles.
Mr Justice Colton's in-tray includes some of the most controversial killings - including the shooting dead of 10 people in Ballymurphy by the British army in 1971 and "shoot to kill" deaths in the 1980s. Only 13 Troubles-related inquests have been heard in the last decade.
Mr Justice Colton takes over as presiding coroner from Lord Justice Reg Weir who temporarily stepped in to undertake a review of more than 50 legacy cases when senior coroner John Leckey retired last year.
The review was ordered by the north's most senior judge Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan who has described the current coronial system as "not fit for purpose".
