Alex Chalk

Alexander John Gervase Chalk (born 8 August 1976) is a British politician serving as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor since April 2023. He was elected Member of Parliament for Cheltenham in 2015. Chalk has previously served in other positions in the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, and as Solicitor General for England and Wales. Early life and law career Chalk was born in Cheltenham on 8 August 1976, to Gilbert John Chalk and Gillian Frances Audrey Blois. He was educated at Windlesham House School, a prep school in Pulborough, West Sussex, and at Winchester College, an independent boarding school in Winchester, Hampshire. He studied modern history at Magdalen College, Oxford. Following graduation, Chalk obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law with distinction from the City University London, and qualified as a barrister from the Inns of Court School of Law. During his legal career he prosecuted and defended in cases concerning terrorism, international fraud, and homicide. He prosecuted three members of a so-called 'Muslim Patrol' who were jailed at the Old Bailey for assault, affray and public order offences. Chalk also prosecuted a group of radical Sunni Muslims who were jailed for attacking a group of Shi'ite Muslims. Chalk prosecuted serious fraud cases, including a case against the socialite Edward Davenport, known as Fast Eddie, who was convicted in 2011 of being the ringmaster of a global fraud which saw 51 victims, including Elizabeth Emanuel, the dress designer, pay for "due diligence checks" to secure loans totalling £2 billion which were not genuinely on offer.