In 1962 Roskill received an appointment as judge on the High Court of Justice (Queen's Bench Division) and was therefore knighted.Dod (1996), p. 308 He became the new president of the Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar, when it was formed in 1967. Roskill filled a vacancy as Lord Justice of Appeal in 1971 and on this occasion was sworn of the Privy Council. Following the death of Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne in 1980, he replaced him as Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, receiving the usual life peerage with the title Baron Roskill, of Newtown, in the County of Hampshire. Six years later he retired.
