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The Times
October 27 1998
The men who will usher in a new era in British law
FEW outside legal circles know the names of the 12 law lords, but they are
likely to become much more high-profile. Excluding the Lord Chancellor, the 12
(in order of appointment) are:
- Lord Browne-Wilkinson: A highly experienced and skilled judge -
regarded as humane, with a first-rate intellect. Born March 30, 1930,
appointed 1991, educated Lancing College; Magdalen College, Oxford.
Background in the Chancery Division, but has given leading judgments in
other areas such as family law. Liberal.
- Lord Slynn of Hadley: A Europhile bon vivant. Born February
17, 1930, appointed 1992. Educated Sandbach School; Goldsmiths College;
Trinity College, Cambridge. He spent 11 years as Advocate-General at the
European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and so will take on the complex
European and commercial cases. He is said to have a brilliant, commercial
mind. Liberal.
- Lord Lloyd of Berwick: The oldest law lord at 69, he is to retire
at Christmas. Low-profile even among colleagues, with only six lead
judgments over the past two years. Some say he is clever, but not brilliant.
Conservative. Expected replacement: Lord Justice Phillips, a moderniser,
widely praised for his handling of the Guinness and Maxwell trials. Popular
and witty. He is currently conducting the BSE inquiry.
- Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead: Quiet and academic. Born January 25,
1933. Appointed 1994. Educated Birkenhead School; Liverpool University;
Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Rose from the Chancery Bar. Rather dry and
reserved. Takes an intellectual approach. Member of the Athenaeum. Politics:
middle of the road.
- Lord Steyn: One of the key characters. Progressive, strong-minded
and speaks out publicly. He attacked current proposals from the Lord
Chancellor to take powers over the legal profession as unconstitutional. One
of the two South African judges. Born August 15, 1932. Educated Cape Town;
University College, Oxford. A Rhodes Scholar. Impressive rise, reaching the
House of Lords ten years after appointment to the Bench. Commercial law
background, but well versed in criminal appeals. Astute and well liked.
Liberal.
- Lord Hoffmann:
The cleverest and most influential law lord? Recently described in Legal Business magazine as "the most dominant personality in the Lords by a mile". Born May 8, 1934. Educated Cape Town; Queen's College, Oxford. A Rhodes Scholar. Another South African high-flyer - media-friendly, maverick, sociable and flamboyant. The character in the Lords. Known for his intellect. His arguments often carry the other law lords with him. Can give advocates a rough time. Loves cycling. Liberal. - Lord Hope of Craighead: Youngest law lord, just 57 when appointed in
1996. Born June 27, 1938, educated Edinburgh Academy; Rugby School; St
John's College, Cambridge. Scot who had a meteoric rise. He has a quiet,
meticulous style. Middle-of-the- road politics.
- Lord Clyde: "The other Scottish judge." Born January 29,
1932. Appointed 1996. Educated Edinburgh Academy; Corpus Christi, Oxford;
Edinburgh University. Industrious and pleasant with a human touch. Headed
the Orkney child abuse inquiry. From a judicial dynasty - his father was
president of the Court of Session in Edinburgh, as was his grandfather.
- Lord Saville of Newdigate: The modern law lord, currently chairing
the Bloody Sunday inquiry. The acceptable face of the judiciary, who was
once dubbed the Lord of Cool. Born March 20, 1936. Educated Rye Grammar
School and Brasenose College, Oxford. Appointed 1997. Friendly, unpompous
and affable. Rapid rise through judicial ranks. A technophile who is streets
ahead of most judges on technology, and who is taking the lead in getting
the others there. Loves flying, sailing and sport. Plays squash in his lunch
hour. Middle-of-the-road politics.
- Lord Hutton:
"The Irish law lord." Went to Lords in 1997 from being Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. Educated in England so regarded a little as an outsider by some of the Northern Ireland legal community. Born June 29, 1931. Educated Shrewsbury School; Balliol College, Oxford; Queen's University, Belfast. Dismissed Private Lee Clegg's appeal against conviction for murder. Conviction was quashed by his successor. Conservative.
- Lord Hobhouse:
One of two new appointments. As yet untested. Regarded as conservative and tough, his appointment caused something of a stir. Very clever but austere; an old-style judge who does not suffer fools gladly. Commercial law background. Born January 31, 1932. Educated Eton College; Christ Church, Oxford.
- Lord Millett:
The other new boy, but not a surprise appointment. Very clever and popular Chancery judge regularly picked by lawyers as their favourite on the Bench. A rising star. Educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Enjoys philately, bridge and The Times crossword. Politics: middle of the road.
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