*/
By David Keene
Judicial memoirs range from the deliciously (but perhaps recklessly) indiscreet (Lord Hope) to the hilarious (Lord Brown) to the earnest (Lord Dyson). Lord Justice Keene’s is in the latter category. He says it was written expressly for his grandchildren.
One interesting feature of the book is his description of his move from Chairmanship of the Oxford University Conservative Association to becoming a Labour Party candidate. I suppose this helps impartiality. There is a consideration of many important cases in which he was involved at the Bar or on the Bench, including many airport inquiries. Sir David held a range of positions including Chair of the Judicial Studies Board and the QC Selection Panel. One achievement was the introduction of a gym in the basement of the Royal Courts of Justice.
A chapter is devoted to ‘France and the Blairs’, recording the fact that Tony and Cherie stayed at their magnificent house in the Pyrenees at Saint-Martin-d’Oydes each summer. Sir David records the ‘painful’ fact that some parts of the media made up a story that his ascent to the Court of Appeal was as a result of his friendship with the Blairs, but this was assuaged by a note from Lord Bingham saying that the appointment was ‘the result of a unanimous recommendation by the senior judiciary’. It was, however, felt right by the Keenes that the Blairs should not visit again which they apparently took well.
Sir David retired early but carried on sitting in the Court of Appeal. He tells us that those judges who sit after retirement are known as ‘retreads’ or ‘returned empties’.
John Bowers KC is Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford. He is an employment barrister and associate tenant at Littleton Chambers, and sits as a Deputy High Court Judge and a Recorder. With Jeremy Lewis, Martin Fodder and Jack Mitchell, John is a co-author of Whistleblowing: Law and Practice (OUP: 3rd edition 2022).
Judicial memoirs range from the deliciously (but perhaps recklessly) indiscreet (Lord Hope) to the hilarious (Lord Brown) to the earnest (Lord Dyson). Lord Justice Keene’s is in the latter category. He says it was written expressly for his grandchildren.
One interesting feature of the book is his description of his move from Chairmanship of the Oxford University Conservative Association to becoming a Labour Party candidate. I suppose this helps impartiality. There is a consideration of many important cases in which he was involved at the Bar or on the Bench, including many airport inquiries. Sir David held a range of positions including Chair of the Judicial Studies Board and the QC Selection Panel. One achievement was the introduction of a gym in the basement of the Royal Courts of Justice.
A chapter is devoted to ‘France and the Blairs’, recording the fact that Tony and Cherie stayed at their magnificent house in the Pyrenees at Saint-Martin-d’Oydes each summer. Sir David records the ‘painful’ fact that some parts of the media made up a story that his ascent to the Court of Appeal was as a result of his friendship with the Blairs, but this was assuaged by a note from Lord Bingham saying that the appointment was ‘the result of a unanimous recommendation by the senior judiciary’. It was, however, felt right by the Keenes that the Blairs should not visit again which they apparently took well.
Sir David retired early but carried on sitting in the Court of Appeal. He tells us that those judges who sit after retirement are known as ‘retreads’ or ‘returned empties’.
By David Keene
Justice system requires urgent attention and next steps on the Harman Review
Q&A with Tim Lynch of Jordan Lynch Private Finance
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Why Virtual Assistants Can Meet the Legal Profession’s Exacting Standards
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
The Amazonian artist’s first international solo exhibition is wholly relevant to current issues in social and environmental justice, says Stephen Cragg KC
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
Until reforms are instituted and a programme of training is introduced, expert opinion on intimate partner abuse remains vital to realigning the tilted scales of law and justice, writes Professor Susan Edwards
It’s been five years since the groundbreaking QC competition in which six Black women barristers, including the 2025 Chair of the Bar, took silk. Yet today, the number of Black KCs remains ‘critically low’. Desirée Artesi talks to Baroness Scotland KC, Allison Munroe KC and Melanie Simpson KC about the critical success factors, barriers and ideas for embedding change
