Sir Peter Singer
Encyclopedia
Sir Jan Peter Singer is a former (retired) British High Court Judge
.
, then at Selwyn College, Cambridge
.
, Family Division, from 1993 to 2010. He now acts as an independent mediator and advocate consultant at No. 1 Hare Court — his former chambers.
He was called to the Bar
at the Inner Temple
in 1967, and made a member of the Queen's Bench in 1993, becoming a Queen's Counsel
in 1987. He was a Recorder
between 1987 and 1993, and has been a NE Circuit Liaison Judge since 1993. He was Chairman of the Family Law Bar Association between 1990 and 92. Member, Matrimonial Causes Rule Committee 1981-85. Senate of Inns of Court and Bar 1983-6; Law Society Legal Aid Committee 1984-89; General Council of the Bar 1990-92. Vice-President, European Chapter, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 1992-93.
— That the sheikh could choose “to depart on his flying carpet” to escape paying costs
— That the sheikh should be available to attend hearings “at this relatively fast-free time of the year”
— That he should be in court so that “every grain of sand is sifted”
— And that the sheikh’s evidence was “a bit gelatinous . . . like Turkish Delight”.
In his judgment in the Court of Appeal Lord Justice Ward (sitting with Lord Justice Mummery and Lord Justice Wilson) said, of the remarks complained of, that:
Unfortunately, every one of the four remarks can be seen to be not simply "colourful language" as the judge sought to excuse them but, to adopt [counsel's] submission, to be mocking and disparaging of the third respondent for his status as a Sheikh and/or his Saudi nationality and/or his ethnic origins and/or his Muslim faith
In a statement after the judgment, issued on his behalf by the Judicial Communications Office, the judge said: “I wish publicly to apologise to Sheikh Khalid Ben Abdfullah Rashid Alfawaz for these remarks. My comments were poorly chosen. They were not intended to be racist, nor have I ever intended any disrespect or disregard for the tenets of Islam, or for the sheikh’s Saudi nationality and Arab ethnicity. My judicial work and public speeches clearly demonstrate that I am in no sense racist. ... I did attempt to arrange for the final hearing to be conducted by one of my colleagues, but the workload on the Family Division of the High Court and the judicial resources available to us did not permit this if a long postponement of the final hearing was to be avoided. Clearly though this does not excuse the way I expressed myself”
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...
.
Education
Singer was educated at King Edward's School, BirminghamKing Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, and is widely regarded as one of the most academically successful schools in the country, according to...
, then at Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College, Cambridge
Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the...
.
Career
Singer was a judge in the High Court of JusticeHigh 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...
, Family Division, from 1993 to 2010. He now acts as an independent mediator and advocate consultant at No. 1 Hare Court — his former chambers.
He was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
at the 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 1967, and made a member of the Queen's Bench in 1993, becoming 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 1987. 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...
between 1987 and 1993, and has been a NE Circuit Liaison Judge since 1993. He was Chairman of the Family Law Bar Association between 1990 and 92. Member, Matrimonial Causes Rule Committee 1981-85. Senate of Inns of Court and Bar 1983-6; Law Society Legal Aid Committee 1984-89; General Council of the Bar 1990-92. Vice-President, European Chapter, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers 1992-93.
The Al Farargy matter - the recusal appeal
On 15 November 2007 the Court of Appeal gave reasons for having allowed an appeal from Mr Justice Singer's refusal to recuse himself from hearing a hotly contested matrimonial finance case. The application that he should withdraw from further participation in the matter arose because the judge had made a number of jokes about one of the parties in the case, Sheikh Khalid Ben Abdfullah Rashid Alfawaz. They included the observations— That the sheikh could choose “to depart on his flying carpet” to escape paying costs
— That the sheikh should be available to attend hearings “at this relatively fast-free time of the year”
— That he should be in court so that “every grain of sand is sifted”
— And that the sheikh’s evidence was “a bit gelatinous . . . like Turkish Delight”.
In his judgment in the Court of Appeal Lord Justice Ward (sitting with Lord Justice Mummery and Lord Justice Wilson) said, of the remarks complained of, that:
Unfortunately, every one of the four remarks can be seen to be not simply "colourful language" as the judge sought to excuse them but, to adopt [counsel's] submission, to be mocking and disparaging of the third respondent for his status as a Sheikh and/or his Saudi nationality and/or his ethnic origins and/or his Muslim faith
In a statement after the judgment, issued on his behalf by the Judicial Communications Office, the judge said: “I wish publicly to apologise to Sheikh Khalid Ben Abdfullah Rashid Alfawaz for these remarks. My comments were poorly chosen. They were not intended to be racist, nor have I ever intended any disrespect or disregard for the tenets of Islam, or for the sheikh’s Saudi nationality and Arab ethnicity. My judicial work and public speeches clearly demonstrate that I am in no sense racist. ... I did attempt to arrange for the final hearing to be conducted by one of my colleagues, but the workload on the Family Division of the High Court and the judicial resources available to us did not permit this if a long postponement of the final hearing was to be avoided. Clearly though this does not excuse the way I expressed myself”
Editor
- Joint editor, Rayden on Divorce, 14th Ed., 1983.
- Joint editor, At a Glance, annually, 1992-.
- Consulting editor, Essential Family Practice 2000.