John Hope (Scottish judge)
Encyclopedia
John Hope Scottish judge, eldest son of Charles Hope, Lord President of the Court of Session
, was born on 26 May 1794, and received some part of his education at the High School of Edinburgh.
He was admitted an advocate
on 23 November 1810. When Rae became Lord Advocate
, he was appointed one of his deputes. On 25 June 1822, James Abercromby
unsuccessfully moved in the House of Commons for the appointment of a committee of inquiry into the conduct of the Lord Advocate and the other law officers of the crown in Scotland in relation to the public press. Hope sent Abercromby a letter of protest, and was summoned to attend the house. He was heard at the bar in his own defence on 17 July following (Parl. Debates, new ser. vii. 1668- 1673 ), but though it was unanimously agreed that he had been guilty of a breach of the privileges of the house, no further proceedings were taken in the matter.
On the death of James Wedderburn in November of the same year, Hope was appointed by Lord Liverpool
Solicitor General for Scotland
, a post which he held until the formation of Lord Grey
's ministry in 1830, when he was succeeded by Henry Cockburn.
On 17 December 1830 Hope was elected dean of the Faculty of Advocates
in the place of Francis Jeffrey, in whose favour Hope had generously waived his claims to the chair in the previous year.
In 1841 he succeeded David Boyle as Lord Justice Clerk
, taking his seat on the bench as president of the second division of the court of session on 16 November 1841, and on 17 April 1844 was sworn a member of the Privy Council
. Hope presided over the second division of the civil court, as well as at nearly all trials of importance which took place in the High Court of Justiciary
during his seventeen years of office.
He died in Moray Place, Edinburgh, on 14 June 1858. from a sudden attack of paralysis, and was buried at Ormiston
, near Tranent
. He married in August, 1825 Jessie Scott, daughter of Thomas Irvine of Shetland, by whom he had several children. His widow survived him, and died in Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, on 26 January 1872, aged 79.
While comparing the English with the Scottish bar, Cockburn makes the following allusion to Hope's style of advocacy at the bar: "I heard no voice strained, and did not see a drop of sweat at the bar in these eight days. Our high-pressure dean screams and gesticulates and perspires more in any forenoon than the whole bar of England (I say nothing of Ireland) in a reign" (Memorials of his Time,i.114). Sir Walter Scott had a very high opinion of him (Lockhart, Life of Scott, 1845, p. 587). There was a portrait of him by Colvin Smith
, R.S.A., taken when dean of the faculty, in the National Gallery of Scotland
(Catalogue No. 67). There were also portraits of Hope in the Parliament House and in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
.
Lord President of the Court of Session
The Lord President of the Court of Session is head of the judiciary in Scotland, and presiding judge of the College of Justice and Court of Session, as well as being Lord Justice General of Scotland and head of the High Court of Justiciary, the offices having been combined in 1836...
, was born on 26 May 1794, and received some part of his education at the High School of Edinburgh.
He was admitted an advocate
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
on 23 November 1810. When Rae became Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, he was appointed one of his deputes. On 25 June 1822, James Abercromby
James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline
James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline PC , was a British barrister and Whig politician. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1835 and 1839.-Background and education:...
unsuccessfully moved in the House of Commons for the appointment of a committee of inquiry into the conduct of the Lord Advocate and the other law officers of the crown in Scotland in relation to the public press. Hope sent Abercromby a letter of protest, and was summoned to attend the house. He was heard at the bar in his own defence on 17 July following (Parl. Debates, new ser. vii. 1668- 1673 ), but though it was unanimously agreed that he had been guilty of a breach of the privileges of the house, no further proceedings were taken in the matter.
On the death of James Wedderburn in November of the same year, Hope was appointed by Lord Liverpool
Robert Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool
Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool KG PC was a British politician and the longest-serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since the Union with Ireland in 1801. He was 42 years old when he became premier in 1812 which made him younger than all of his successors to date...
Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
, a post which he held until the formation of Lord Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey
Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC , known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the...
's ministry in 1830, when he was succeeded by Henry Cockburn.
On 17 December 1830 Hope was elected dean of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in the place of Francis Jeffrey, in whose favour Hope had generously waived his claims to the chair in the previous year.
In 1841 he succeeded David Boyle as Lord Justice Clerk
Lord Justice Clerk
The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session...
, taking his seat on the bench as president of the second division of the court of session on 16 November 1841, and on 17 April 1844 was sworn a member of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. Hope presided over the second division of the civil court, as well as at nearly all trials of importance which took place in the High Court of Justiciary
High Court of Justiciary
The High Court of Justiciary is the supreme criminal court of Scotland.The High Court is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal. As a court of first instance, the High Court sits mainly in Parliament House, or in the former Sheriff Court building, in Edinburgh, but also sits from time...
during his seventeen years of office.
He died in Moray Place, Edinburgh, on 14 June 1858. from a sudden attack of paralysis, and was buried at Ormiston
Ormiston
Ormiston is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, UK, near Tranent, Humbie, Pencaitland and Cranston, located on the north bank of the River Tyne at an elevation of about 276 ft....
, near Tranent
Tranent
Tranent is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is close to the A1 road and approximately east of Edinburgh. It is one of the oldest towns in East Lothian, and built on a gentle slope, about 300 feet above sea level.Population of the town is 9,917....
. He married in August, 1825 Jessie Scott, daughter of Thomas Irvine of Shetland, by whom he had several children. His widow survived him, and died in Royal Terrace, Edinburgh, on 26 January 1872, aged 79.
While comparing the English with the Scottish bar, Cockburn makes the following allusion to Hope's style of advocacy at the bar: "I heard no voice strained, and did not see a drop of sweat at the bar in these eight days. Our high-pressure dean screams and gesticulates and perspires more in any forenoon than the whole bar of England (I say nothing of Ireland) in a reign" (Memorials of his Time,i.114). Sir Walter Scott had a very high opinion of him (Lockhart, Life of Scott, 1845, p. 587). There was a portrait of him by Colvin Smith
Colvin Smith
Colvin Smith was a Scottish portrait painter.-Biography:He was born at Brechin, studied in London in the schools of the Royal Academy and worked in Joseph Nollekens's studio...
, R.S.A., taken when dean of the faculty, in the National Gallery of Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
(Catalogue No. 67). There were also portraits of Hope in the Parliament House and in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery on Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. It holds the national collections of portraits, all of which are of, but not necessarily by, Scots. In addition it also holds the Scottish National Photography Collection...
.