Donald Farquharson (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir Donald Henry Farquharson (1928 – 21 August 2011) was a British judge, who served as a High Court Judge
for eight years and as a judge of the Court of Appeal
for six years.
. He was called to the bar as a member of Inner Temple
in 1952 and thereafter practised as a barrister
. He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Essex Quarter Sessions
in 1970, and took silk
in 1972. He was a Recorder
of the Crown Court
from 1972 until 1981, when he was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Justice
, assigned to the Queen's Bench Division.
He received the customary knighthood upon appointment. In 1989, he was promoted to become a Lord Justice of Appeal
as a member of the Court of Appeal
, and became a member of the Privy Council. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Keble College in the same year.
He was chairman of the Judicial Studies Board
from 1992 to 1994. Farquharson retired from the bench in 1995.
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...
for eight years and as a judge of the Court of Appeal
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...
for six years.
Life
Farquharson was educated at the Royal Commercial Travellers School before studying at Keble College, OxfordKeble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
. He was called to the bar as a member of Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1952 and thereafter practised as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Essex Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
in 1970, and took silk
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 1972. He 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...
of 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...
from 1972 until 1981, when he was appointed as a judge of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, assigned to the Queen's Bench Division.
He received the customary knighthood upon appointment. In 1989, he was promoted to become a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
as a member of the Court of Appeal
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...
, and became a member of the Privy Council. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Keble College in the same year.
He was chairman of the Judicial Studies Board
Judicial Studies Board
The Judicial College, formerly the Judicial Studies Board , established in 1979, is the organisation responsible for training judges in Crown, County and higher courts in England and Wales and tribunals judges in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This includes the training of lay...
from 1992 to 1994. Farquharson retired from the bench in 1995.