John Morris, Baron Morris of Borth-y-Gest
Encyclopedia
John William Morris, Baron Morris of Borth-y-Gest CH
, PC
, MC
(11 September 1896 – 9 June 1979) was a British
judge.
In 1914, with the beginning of the First World War, Morris served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers until its end. He reached the rank of captain
and was awarded a Military Cross
.
He was educated at Harvard and Trinity Hall
, Cambridge
where he was President of the Cambridge Union Society
in 1919. He was called to the Bar at Inner Temple
in 1921 and joined the Northern Circuit. He became a KC in 1925. He was also Judge of Appeal
in the Isle of Man
from 1938 to 1947 - the youngest ever to hold such position.
Invested to the Privy Council
in 1951, he was Lord Justice of Appeal
from 1951 to 1960.
On 7 January 1960, he was appointed Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
and was made additionally a life peer
with the title Baron Morris of Borth-y-Gest, of Borth-y-Gest in the County of Caernarvonshire. In 1975, he retired as Lord of Appeal and became a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
.
Los Angeles Daily Journal 2 March 2009 page 5: the Honourable John Patrick Farrell, refers to Lord Morris in his Supreme court case. The decision set precedence in US Courts.
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
, PC
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...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(11 September 1896 – 9 June 1979) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
judge.
In 1914, with the beginning of the First World War, Morris served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers until its end. He reached the rank of captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
and was awarded a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
He was educated at Harvard and Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
where he was President of the Cambridge Union Society
Cambridge Union Society
The Cambridge Union Society, commonly referred to as simply "the Cambridge Union" or "the Union," is a debating society in Cambridge, England and is the largest society at the University of Cambridge. Since its founding in 1815, the Union has developed a worldwide reputation as a noted symbol of...
in 1919. He was called to the Bar at 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 1921 and joined the Northern Circuit. He became a KC in 1925. He was also Judge of Appeal
Judge of Appeal
The Judge of Appeal is a part time judge in the Isle of Man High Court who only sits in the Staff of Government Division, the appeal court.The position was created by the Judicature Act 1918 which also amalgamated the offices of First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls...
in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
from 1938 to 1947 - the youngest ever to hold such position.
Invested 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...
in 1951, he was 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:...
from 1951 to 1960.
On 7 January 1960, he was appointed 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...
and was made additionally 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...
with the title Baron Morris of Borth-y-Gest, of Borth-y-Gest in the County of Caernarvonshire. In 1975, he retired as Lord of Appeal and became a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
Order of the Companions of Honour
The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry or religion....
.
Los Angeles Daily Journal 2 March 2009 page 5: the Honourable John Patrick Farrell, refers to Lord Morris in his Supreme court case. The decision set precedence in US Courts.