Sydney Kentridge
Encyclopedia
Sir Sydney Kentridge KCMG, QC (born November 5, 1922) is a prominent South African lawyer and member of the English Bar
. He played a leading part in a number of the most significant political trials in apartheid-era South Africa, including the Stephen Biko inquest in 1977.
, where he attended the King Edward VII School.
He graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in 1942. He served during the Second World War in the South African Army
in East Africa
and Italy
, before attending Exeter College, Oxford
, where he graduated with a first class BA
in Jurisprudence
in 1948.
, being appointed a senior counsel
in 1965.
He became the leading lawyer for the defence in political trials in South Africa, with some of his major cases including the Treason Trial
(1958–1961) and the newspaper Prisons Trial (1968–1969).
In 1977, he represented the family of Stephen Biko at the inquest following Biko’s death in custody on 7 September 1977. "There is indisputable evidence," Kentridge said, "that on the morning of September 6 Mr. Biko went into the interrogation room alive and well. On the morning of the 7th he came out a physical and mental wreck. He died a miserable and lonely death on a cold prison floor." Lord Alexander of Weedon
wrote of his performance: "Through remorseless and deadly cross-examination, sometimes with brilliant irony, Kentridge established that the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement
had been killed by police brutality. The verdict of accidental death was seen as risible."
Since 1977, he has practised at the English Bar and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1984. He became a Bencher
of Lincoln's Inn
in 1985. He is a member of Brick Court Chambers
, a leading commercial set, and is widely regarded as the elder statesman of the English Bar.
He has served as a judge in a number of jurisdictions, sitting as a Judge of Appeal in Botswana
(1981–1989), as a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey
and Guernsey
(1988–1992) and as an Acting Justice of the South African Constitutional Court (1995–1996).
(1985), Cape Town
(1987), Natal
(1989), London
(1995), Sussex
(1997), Witwatersrand
(2000), and the University of Buckingham
(2009).
He was elected an Honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford
in 1986.
He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
(1997), an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
(1998) and an Honorary Member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York
(2001).
He is a Knight Commander of the British Order of St Michael and St George
(1999) and a Supreme Counsellor of the South African Order of the Baobab
in Gold (2008).
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/music/ and father of the artist William Kentridge
.
Barristers in England and Wales
Barristers in England and Wales are one of the two main categories of lawyer in England and Wales, the other being solicitors. -Origin of the profession:The work of senior legal professionals in England and Wales...
. He played a leading part in a number of the most significant political trials in apartheid-era South Africa, including the Stephen Biko inquest in 1977.
Education
Kentridge was born in 1922 in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, where he attended the King Edward VII School.
He graduated from the University of Witwatersrand in 1942. He served during the Second World War in the South African Army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, before attending Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, where he graduated with a first class BA
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...
in Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
in 1948.
Legal career
In 1949 Kentridge was admitted as an advocate of the Supreme Court of South AfricaHigh Court of South Africa
The High Courts are superior courts of law in South Africa. The courts were created in 1996 on the adoption of the Constitution of South Africa, and inherited the jurisdiction of the provincial and local divisions of the former Supreme Court of South Africa...
, being appointed a senior counsel
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
in 1965.
He became the leading lawyer for the defence in political trials in South Africa, with some of his major cases including the Treason Trial
Treason Trial
The Treason Trial was a trial in which 156 people, including Nelson Mandela, were arrested in a raid and accused of treason in South Africa in 1956....
(1958–1961) and the newspaper Prisons Trial (1968–1969).
In 1977, he represented the family of Stephen Biko at the inquest following Biko’s death in custody on 7 September 1977. "There is indisputable evidence," Kentridge said, "that on the morning of September 6 Mr. Biko went into the interrogation room alive and well. On the morning of the 7th he came out a physical and mental wreck. He died a miserable and lonely death on a cold prison floor." Lord Alexander of Weedon
Robert Alexander, Baron Alexander of Weedon
Robert Scott Alexander, Baron Alexander of Weedon, QC, FRSA was a British barrister, banker and Conservative politician....
wrote of his performance: "Through remorseless and deadly cross-examination, sometimes with brilliant irony, Kentridge established that the founder of the Black Consciousness Movement
Black Consciousness Movement
The Black Consciousness Movement was a grassroots anti-Apartheid activist movement that emerged in South Africa in the mid-1960s out of the political vacuum created by the jailing and banning of the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress leadership after the Sharpeville Massacre in...
had been killed by police brutality. The verdict of accidental death was seen as risible."
Since 1977, he has practised at the English Bar and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1984. He became a Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1985. He is a member of Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers
Brick Court Chambers is a set of barristers' chambers in London.Currently comprising 71 full-time members, 35 of whom are Queen's Counsel, including well-known silks Sir Sydney Kentridge QC and Jonathan Sumption QC.- External links :* * * *...
, a leading commercial set, and is widely regarded as the elder statesman of the English Bar.
He has served as a judge in a number of jurisdictions, sitting as a Judge of Appeal in Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
(1981–1989), as a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
and Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
(1988–1992) and as an Acting Justice of the South African Constitutional Court (1995–1996).
Honours
Kentridge has been awarded an Honorary LL.D. by the Universities of LeicesterUniversity of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
(1985), Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
(1987), Natal
University of Natal
The University of Natal was a university in Natal, and later KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, that is now part of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. It was founded in 1910 as the Natal University College in Pietermaritzburg, and expanded to include a campus in Durban in 1931. In 1947, the university...
(1989), London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(1995), Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
(1997), Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
(2000), and the University of Buckingham
University of Buckingham
The University of Buckingham is an independent, non-sectarian, research and teaching university located in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Great Ouse. It was originally founded as Buckingham University College in the 1970s and received its Royal Charter from the...
(2009).
He was elected an Honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
in 1986.
He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
Institute of Advanced Legal Studies
The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is part of the School of Advanced Study of the University of London. It was founded in 1946 as a national academic institution to promote and advance legal research, implementing a proposal of 1934 report of the Legal Education Committee chaired by Lord Atkin...
(1997), an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
American College of Trial Lawyers
The American College of Trial Lawyers is a professional association of trial lawyers from the United States and Canada. Founded in 1950, the College is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession...
(1998) and an Honorary Member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Association of the Bar of the City of New York
The New York City Bar Association , founded in 1870, is a voluntary association of lawyers and law students. Since 1896, the organization, formally known as the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, has been headquartered in a landmark building on 44th Street, between Fifth and Sixth...
(2001).
He is a Knight Commander of the British Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(1999) and a Supreme Counsellor of the South African Order of the Baobab
Order of the Baobab
The Order of the Baobab is a South African honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa for service to South Africa in the following fields: business and the economy, science, medicine and technological innovation, and community service...
in Gold (2008).
Family
Kentridge married Felicia Geffen in 1952. They have two daughters, two sons, six granddaughters and three grandsons. He is a cousin of the popular composer Trevor RabinTrevor Rabin
Trevor Charles Rabin is a South African born musician, best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British progressive rock band Yes from 1983–1994, and since then, as a film composer.- Early years :...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/music/ and father of the artist William Kentridge
William Kentridge
William Kentridge is a South African artist best known for his prints, drawings, and animated films. These are constructed by filming a drawing, making erasures and changes, and filming it again. He continues this process meticulously, giving each change to the drawing a quarter of a second to two...
.