John Anthony Roberts (17 May 1928–26 June 2016) was a Sierra Leone-born British lawyer, claimed to be the first Queen's Counsel of African descent.

Roberts was born in Sierra Leone in 1928. His mother was a slave descendant. His father was Brazilian.

Roberts came to the UK in 1952, working with the RAF serving in different locations worldwide including Sierra Leone. He came back to the UK in 1964 and worked as a civil servant until 1969.

Roberts studied law and set up Chambers at Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn. He was the first African descendant to be appointed Queen's Counsel and the first Recorder of the Crown Court in England and Wales.

He died in 2016.[1][2][3]

References

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  1. ^ "John Anthony Roberts". National Portrait Gallery. 28 January 1997. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Legal Maverick Dr John Anthony Roberts QC CBE has died". The St Kitts Nevis Observer. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  3. ^ Roberts, David F (17 October 2022). "Legal maverick Dr John Anthony Roberts, dies aged 88". The Voice Online. Retrieved 1 July 2024.