*/
Tributes have been paid to the former President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall, following his family’s announcement of his death.
A notice in The Times newspaper said he ‘died by his own hand on 17 February 2017’. It added: ‘After years of suffering, he was recently diagnosed with a rare dementia of the fronto-temporal lobe.’
The notice included a verse from Tennyson’s poem Tithonus: ‘The woods decay, the woods decay and fall. The vapours weep their burthen to the ground. Man comes and tills the field and lies beneath. And after many a summer dies the swan.’
His successor, Sir James Munby, said: ‘On and off the bench, and to the wide admiration of those who practise in family law, Sir Nicholas often spoke with passion, and in plain language, about the importance of family life, the good practice of family law, and the proper administration and resourcing of family justice.
‘He was appropriately outspoken about the plight of children caught up in the midst of parental conflict. He expressed his deep concern again and again about the impact of domestic abuse on children and on family life.
‘Sir Nicholas’ life was one of very great achievement and he has left us a formidable and enduring legacy.’
Sir Nicholas was called to the Bar in 1969, appointed a High Court Judge in 1993, to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council in 2004 and became President of the Family Division in 2010. He was 71.
Tributes have been paid to the former President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall, following his family’s announcement of his death.
A notice in The Times newspaper said he ‘died by his own hand on 17 February 2017’. It added: ‘After years of suffering, he was recently diagnosed with a rare dementia of the fronto-temporal lobe.’
The notice included a verse from Tennyson’s poem Tithonus: ‘The woods decay, the woods decay and fall. The vapours weep their burthen to the ground. Man comes and tills the field and lies beneath. And after many a summer dies the swan.’
His successor, Sir James Munby, said: ‘On and off the bench, and to the wide admiration of those who practise in family law, Sir Nicholas often spoke with passion, and in plain language, about the importance of family life, the good practice of family law, and the proper administration and resourcing of family justice.
‘He was appropriately outspoken about the plight of children caught up in the midst of parental conflict. He expressed his deep concern again and again about the impact of domestic abuse on children and on family life.
‘Sir Nicholas’ life was one of very great achievement and he has left us a formidable and enduring legacy.’
Sir Nicholas was called to the Bar in 1969, appointed a High Court Judge in 1993, to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council in 2004 and became President of the Family Division in 2010. He was 71.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the latest ONS data on drug misuse and its implications for toxicology testing in family law cases
A career shaped by advocacy beyond her practice, and the realities of living with an invisible disability – Dr Natasha Shotunde, Black Barristers’ Network Co-Founder and its Chair for seven years, reflects on a decade at the Bar
The odds of success are as unforgiving as ever, but ambition clearly isn’t in short supply. David Wurtzel’s annual deep‑dive into the competition cohort shows who’s entering, who’s thriving and the trends that will define the next wave
Where to start and where to find help? Monisha Shah, Chair of the King’s Counsel Selection Panel, provides an overview of the silk selection process, debunking some myths along the way
Do chatbot providers owe a duty of care for negligent misstatements? Jasper Wong suggests that the principles applicable to humans should apply equally to machines
There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse
