Stephen Sedley
Encyclopedia
Sir Stephen Sedley, styled The Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Sedley was a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
from 1999 to 2011.
, Stephen Sedley was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1964 and started practice in chambers with John Platts-Mills
. He was involved in many high-profile cases and inquiries, from the death of Blair Peach
and the Carl Bridgewater murder trial to the contempt hearing against Kenneth Baker
, then Home Secretary.
He became a QC
in 1983. He was appointed a High Court judge
in 1992, serving in the Queen's Bench Division. In 1999 he was appointed to the Court of Appeal
as a Lord Justice of Appeal
. He retired from the Court of Appeal in 2011 following the publication of a collection of his essays and lectures.
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...
from 1999 to 2011.
Family background
His father was Bill Sedley (1910–1985), of a Jewish immigrant family, who operated a legal advice service in the East End of London in the 1930s. In the War he served in North Africa and Italy with the Eighth Army. He founded the firm of lawyers of Seifert and Sedley in the 1940s with Sigmund Seifert and was a life-long Communist.Legal career
After graduation from Queens' College, CambridgeQueens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
, Stephen Sedley was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1964 and started practice in chambers with John Platts-Mills
John Platts-Mills
John Faithful Fortescue Platts-Mills, QC was a British Labour Party politician born in Wellington, New Zealand. He graduated with a first-class honours degree in law from Victoria University of Wellington and in 1928 won a Rhodes Scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford...
. He was involved in many high-profile cases and inquiries, from the death of Blair Peach
Blair Peach
Clement Blair Peach was a New Zealand-born teacher who was fatally assaulted by a police officer during an anti-racism demonstration in London, England....
and the Carl Bridgewater murder trial to the contempt hearing against Kenneth Baker
Kenneth Baker
Kenneth Wilfred Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking, CH, PC , is a British politician, a former Conservative MP and a Life Member of the Tory Reform Group.-Early life:...
, then Home Secretary.
He became a QC
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 1983. He was appointed a High Court judge
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...
in 1992, serving in the Queen's Bench Division. In 1999 he was appointed to 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...
as 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:...
. He retired from the Court of Appeal in 2011 following the publication of a collection of his essays and lectures.