*/
Renowned as one of the UK’s most liberal judges, South African-born Lord Steyn was a prominent opponent of apartheid and opposed Tony Blair and George Bush over the Iraq War and Guantanamo.
Called to the Bar in South Africa in 1958, he was appointed Senior Counsel in 1970. In 1973 he emigrated to Britain, where he began his legal career again.
He took Silk after six years and in 1985 he was appointed to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court. He was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 1992 and three years later took a place on the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords.
Politically outspoken, in 2003 Lord Steyn accused the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, of using ‘weasel words’ to justify his policy on asylum seekers, declared the US regime at Guantanamo Bay ‘a monstrous failure of justice’ and branded the system of trial by military tribunal as no more than a ‘kangaroo court’ that ‘makes a mockery of justice’.
In 2004 Lord Bingham of Cornhill was asked not to include Lord Steyn on the nine-judge panel to decide on the legality of detaining foreign terror suspects without trial. Lord Steyn agreed to stand down, but later told The Times that the government had raised a ‘truly flimsy objection’ and said it had been the first time that a government had ever sought and obtained an alteration in the composition of the House of Lords’ Judicial Committee.
Lord Steyn died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 28 November 2017, at the age of 85.
Renowned as one of the UK’s most liberal judges, South African-born Lord Steyn was a prominent opponent of apartheid and opposed Tony Blair and George Bush over the Iraq War and Guantanamo.
Called to the Bar in South Africa in 1958, he was appointed Senior Counsel in 1970. In 1973 he emigrated to Britain, where he began his legal career again.
He took Silk after six years and in 1985 he was appointed to the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court. He was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 1992 and three years later took a place on the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords.
Politically outspoken, in 2003 Lord Steyn accused the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, of using ‘weasel words’ to justify his policy on asylum seekers, declared the US regime at Guantanamo Bay ‘a monstrous failure of justice’ and branded the system of trial by military tribunal as no more than a ‘kangaroo court’ that ‘makes a mockery of justice’.
In 2004 Lord Bingham of Cornhill was asked not to include Lord Steyn on the nine-judge panel to decide on the legality of detaining foreign terror suspects without trial. Lord Steyn agreed to stand down, but later told The Times that the government had raised a ‘truly flimsy objection’ and said it had been the first time that a government had ever sought and obtained an alteration in the composition of the House of Lords’ Judicial Committee.
Lord Steyn died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 28 November 2017, at the age of 85.
Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar, sets our course for 2026
What meaningful steps can you take in 2026 to advance your legal career? asks Thomas Cowan of St Pauls Chambers
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, explains why drugs may appear in test results, despite the donor denying use of them
Asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
AlphaBiolabs has donated £500 to The Christie Charity through its Giving Back initiative, helping to support cancer care, treatment and research across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and further afield
Q&A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
The appointments of 96 new King’s Counsel (also known as silk) are announced today
With pupillage application season under way, Laura Wright reflects on her route to ‘tech barrister’ and offers advice for those aiming at a career at the Bar
Jury-less trial proposals threaten fairness, legitimacy and democracy without ending the backlog, writes Professor Cheryl Thomas KC (Hon), the UK’s leading expert on juries, judges and courts
Are you ready for the new way to do tax returns? David Southern KC explains the biggest change since HMRC launched self-assessment more than 30 years ago... and its impact on the Bar
Marking one year since a Bar disciplinary tribunal dismissed all charges against her, Dr Charlotte Proudman discusses the experience, her formative years and next steps. Interview by Anthony Inglese CB
