Robert Carswell, Baron Carswell
Encyclopedia
Robert Douglas Carswell, Baron Carswell, PC, QC
(born 28 June 1934), is a retired Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
.
The son of Alan and Nance Carswell was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
and Pembroke College, Oxford
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts
and Master of Arts
in classics and law in 1956. Two years later he graduated from the University of Chicago
's Law School with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Carswell was Counsel to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland
in the years 1970 and 1971, and Senior Crown Counsel in Northern Ireland
from 1979 to 1984. In 1984, he became Judge of the High Court of Justice
Northern Ireland, a post he held until 1993. He was Lord Justice of Appeal
at the Supreme Court of Judicature
in Northern Ireland from 1993 to 1997 and further Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
from 1997 to 2004.
Lord Carswell was made a Queen's Counsel
in 1971 and became a Privy Counsellor
in 1993. He was appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
as Baron Carswell, of Killeen in the County of Down
on 12 January 2004, having been knighted in 1988.
On 20 November, 2007, Lord Carswell gave a lecture entitled The Breastplate of Judgment: Human Rights in the House of Lords at the University of Cambridge.
During 2009-2010, Lord Carswell chaired an inquiry into the roles of Jersey's Crown Officers (the Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, Attorney General and Solicitor General), presenting a report recommending reforms to the States of Jersey
on 6 December 2010.
Lady Carswell was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Belfast
in 2000.
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...
(born 28 June 1934), is a retired 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...
.
The son of Alan and Nance Carswell was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
and Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in classics and law in 1956. Two years later he graduated from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
's Law School with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Carswell was Counsel to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland
Attorney General for Northern Ireland
The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is the chief legal adviser to the Northern Ireland Executive for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Northern Ireland Assembly....
in the years 1970 and 1971, and Senior Crown Counsel in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
from 1979 to 1984. In 1984, he became 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...
Northern Ireland, a post he held until 1993. 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:...
at the Supreme Court of Judicature
Supreme Court of Judicature
Supreme Court of Judicature may refer to:* Supreme Court of Judicature . Supreme Court of Barbados* Supreme Court of Judicature , Supreme Court of Guyana* Supreme Court of Judicature , the supreme court in Ireland from 1877 to 1920...
in Northern Ireland from 1993 to 1997 and further Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is the head of the judiciary in Northern Ireland, presiding over the Courts of Northern Ireland. The present Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is Sir Declan Morgan...
from 1997 to 2004.
Lord Carswell was made 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 1971 and became a Privy Counsellor
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...
in 1993. He was appointed 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...
as Baron Carswell, of Killeen in the County of Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
on 12 January 2004, having been knighted in 1988.
On 20 November, 2007, Lord Carswell gave a lecture entitled The Breastplate of Judgment: Human Rights in the House of Lords at the University of Cambridge.
During 2009-2010, Lord Carswell chaired an inquiry into the roles of Jersey's Crown Officers (the Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, Attorney General and Solicitor General), presenting a report recommending reforms to the States of Jersey
States of Jersey
The States of Jersey is the parliament and government of Jersey.The Assembly of the States of Jersey has exercised legislative powers since 1771, when law-making power was transferred from the Royal Court of Jersey....
on 6 December 2010.
Family
Lord Carswell married Romayne Winifred Ferris in 1961; they have two daughters.Lady Carswell was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Belfast
Lord Lieutenant of Belfast
The Lord Lieutenant of Belfast is the official representative of the Queen for the 'County Borough of Belfast', Northern Ireland. The current Lord Lieutenant is Dame Mary Peters who was appointed in August 2009. The position was first created in 1900 and was held by the Marquess of Londonderry...
in 2000.
See also
- List of Northern Ireland Members of the House of Lords
- List of Northern Ireland members of the Privy Council