Robert Douglas Carswell, Baron Carswell, PC KC, (28 June 1934 – 4 May 2023) was a British barrister and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.
The Lord Carswell | |
|---|---|
 Carswell in 2018 | |
| Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 12 September 2004 – 30 June 2009 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Brian Hutton |
| Succeeded by | Sir Brian Kerr |
| Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1997–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Brian Hutton |
| Succeeded by | Sir Brian Kerr |
| Lord Justice of Appeal Supreme Court of Judicature Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1992–1997 | |
| High Court of Justice Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1984–1992 | |
| Senior Crown Counsel Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1979–1984 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Douglas Carswell 28 June 1934 |
| Died | 4 May 2023 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Romayne Ferris (1961–2023) |
| Children | Catherine Patricia |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Judge |
| Profession | Barrister |
Early life and education
editThe son of Alan Carswell and his wife Nance Corlett, Robert Carswell was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Pembroke College, Oxford where he received a BA in Classics and Law in 1956 (later converted to an MA). Two years later he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School with a Juris Doctor.
Legal career
editCarswell was called to the bar in 1957 and took silk in 1971.[1]
Carswell was Counsel to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland in the years 1969 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 1992. He was Lord Justice of Appeal at the Supreme Court of Judicature in Northern Ireland from 1992 to 1997 and further Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2004. Lord Carswell was made a Queen's Counsel in 1971.
Carswell was knighted in 1988 and became a Privy Counsellor in 1993. He was appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary[2] as Baron Carswell, of Killeen in the County of Down on 12 January 2004.[3][4] He sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher until his retirement from the membership of the House on 29 October 2019.[5]
From 2009 to 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.
Marriage and children
editCarswell married Romayne Winifred Ferris in 1961; they had two daughters. Lady Carswell was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Belfast in 2000.
Death
editLord Carswell died on 4 May 2023 at the age of 88.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Owen Bowcott, Lord Carswell obituary, The Guardian, 30 May 2023
- ^ "Announcement at number10.gov.uk". Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 6 November 2006.
- ^ House of Lords (13 January 2004). "Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords". minutes of proceedings. Retrieved 6 November 2006.
- ^ "No. 57179". The London Gazette. 15 January 2004. p. 503.
- ^ "Lord Carswell". UK Parliament. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Former Lord Chief Justice Robert Carswell dies aged 88". BBC News. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- "DodOnline". Archived from the original on 3 October 2006. Retrieved 6 November 2006.
External links
edit- "UK Parliament Publications". Retrieved 6 November 2006.
- "BBC Northern Ireland". BBC News. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2006.
- "DCA" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2006.
- "Stationery Office – UK Parliament". Retrieved 6 November 2006. [dead link]