Anthony Clarke
Encyclopedia
Anthony Peter Clarke, Baron Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony, PC (born 13 May 1943) is one of the first eleven Justices
of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
, and was the first Justice to be appointed directly to the court when it came into existence on 1 October 2009 without having sat as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
. He was also appointed to the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong on April 11, 2011 as a non-permanent judge from other common law jurisdictions. He was previously Master of the Rolls
and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales
.
Clarke was educated at Oakham School
. In 1957 the trial of suspected serial killer
John Bodkin Adams
first made him interested in pursuing a career in the law. He read economics and law at King's College, Cambridge
. He was called to the Bar
at Middle Temple
in 1965, and specialised in commercial and maritime law. He became a Queen's Counsel
in 1979, and was a Recorder
sitting in both criminal and civil courts from 1985 to 1992.
He became a High Court judge
in 1993, receiving the customary knighthood
, and was allocated to the Queen's Bench Division. In April 1993, he succeeded Mr. Justice Sheen as the Admiralty Judge. He sat in the Admiralty Court
, the Commercial Court and the Crown Court
, trying commercial and criminal cases respectively.
He was promoted to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
in 1998, and appointed to the Privy Council
. Shortly thereafter, he took charge of the Thames Safety Inquiry and in the following year the judicial inquiry into the Marchioness disaster
. He was appointed as Master of the Rolls in 2005. On 15 April 2009, it was announced that Clarke would be granted a life peer
age, and he was subsequently created Baron Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony, of Stone-cum-Ebony
in the County of Kent
, on 29 May 2009, and took his seat in the House of Lords
on 1 June 2009.
It was announced on 20 April 2009 that he was to be appointed to the Supreme Court
with effect from 1 October 2009.
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Justices of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom are the judges of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom other than the President and Deputy President. The Supreme Court is the highest in the United Kingdom for civil matters, and for criminal matters from England and Wales and Northern Ireland...
of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
, and was the first Justice to be appointed directly to the court when it came into existence on 1 October 2009 without having sat as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
. He was also appointed to the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong on April 11, 2011 as a non-permanent judge from other common law jurisdictions. He was previously Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
and Head of Civil Justice in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
Clarke was educated at Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
. In 1957 the trial of suspected serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams
John Bodkin Adams was an Irish-born British general practitioner, convicted fraudster and suspected serial killer. Between the years 1946 and 1956, more than 160 of his patients died in suspicious circumstances. Of these, 132 left him money or items in their will. He was tried and acquitted for...
first made him interested in pursuing a career in the law. He read economics and law at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. He was called to the Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
at Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1965, and specialised in commercial and maritime law. He became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1979, and was a Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
sitting in both criminal and civil courts from 1985 to 1992.
He became a High Court judge
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
in 1993, receiving the customary knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
, and was allocated to the Queen's Bench Division. In April 1993, he succeeded Mr. Justice Sheen as the Admiralty Judge. He sat in the Admiralty Court
Admiralty court
Admiralty courts, also known as maritime courts, are courts exercising jurisdiction over all maritime contracts, torts, injuries and offences.- Admiralty Courts in England and Wales :...
, the Commercial Court and the Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, trying commercial and criminal cases respectively.
He was promoted to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
in 1998, and appointed to the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. Shortly thereafter, he took charge of the Thames Safety Inquiry and in the following year the judicial inquiry into the Marchioness disaster
Marchioness disaster
The Marchioness disaster occurred on the River Thames in London in the early hours of 20 August 1989. The pleasure boat Marchioness sank after being run down by the dredger Bowbelle, near Cannon Street Railway Bridge. There were 131 people on the Marchioness. Some were members of the crew, some...
. He was appointed as Master of the Rolls in 2005. On 15 April 2009, it was announced that Clarke would be granted a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
age, and he was subsequently created Baron Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony, of Stone-cum-Ebony
Stone-cum-Ebony
Stone-cum-Ebony is a civil parish south of Ashford in Kent, South East England. It includes the village of Stone in Oxney and hamlet of Ebony.The parish is south east of Tenterden, and stands in a position on the eastern side of the Isle of Oxney....
in the County of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, on 29 May 2009, and took his seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
on 1 June 2009.
It was announced on 20 April 2009 that he was to be appointed to the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court in all matters under English law, Northern Ireland law and Scottish civil law. It is the court of last resort and highest appellate court in the United Kingdom; however the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme court for criminal...
with effect from 1 October 2009.
Styles
- Anthony Clarke, Esq. (13 May 1943–1979)
- Anthony Clarke, Esq., QC (1979–11 January 1993)
- The Hon. Mr Justice Clarke (11 January 1993–1 October 1998)
- The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Clarke (1 October 1998–3 October 2005)
- The Rt Hon. Sir Anthony Clarke MR (1 October 2005–29 May 2009)
- The Rt Hon. The Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony MR (29 May 2009–30 September 2009)
- The Rt Hon. The Lord Clarke of Stone-cum-Ebony (1 October 2009–)
External links
- The Court of Appeal from HM Courts Service
- Senior judiciary biographies - Master of the Rolls from the Judicial Communications Office