THE historic office of Honorary Recorder of the City of York has been formally restored.

His Honour Judge Paul Hoffman was appointed to the post at a civic ceremony at the Mansion House.

The decision was taken by special resolution of the council last month, and was conferred on Judge Hoffman as the resident judge at York Crown Court.

The position of Honorary Recorder was last conferred on Judge Harry Bennett QC in 1971.

To mark his appointment, Judge Hoffman was presented with a specially-designed parchment scroll by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Irene Waudby.

Richard Clark, the council's head of legal services and acting assistant chief executive, said: "The council is delighted to restore the link between the city and the judiciary which goes back to at least 1388.

"We are looking forward to working with Judge Hoffman at a number of events throughout the civic year.

"We are very pleased that he has agreed to accept the position."

The Lord Mayor added: "I think it is important to keep these things going - it is the kind of thing which helps to make York so special."

Now 59, Judge Hoffman was first called to the Bar in 1964. In 1991, he was appointed a circuit judge sitting mainly in Leeds and York.

While sitting in Leeds, Judge Hoffman became well-known for trying some long and weighty cases, before moving on to become resident judge at York Crown Court in 1999.

Updated: 11:37 Thursday, February 14, 2002