A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court. Benchers hol office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister (usually, but not always, Queen's Counsel), in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law. Others become benchers as a matter of course when appointed as a High Court Judges. The Inn may elect non-members as honorary benchers - for example, distinguished judges from other countries, eminent non-lawyers or members of the Royal Family.