Anthony McCowan
Encyclopedia
Sir Anthony James Denys McCowan QC
PC (12 January 1928 - 3 July 2003) was a British barrister and judge of the High Court of Justice
and Court of Appeal
best known for trying the case of Clive Ponting
in 1985. After studying at Epsom College
he won a scholarship to study history at Brasenose College, Oxford
, where he switched to law, and he was called to the Bar in 1951. After gaining a strong practice in criminal, property and personal injury law he was made a Queen's Counsel
in 1972, and was appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice
in 1981. In 1989 he became a judge of the Court of Appeal
, but only sat for eight years until ill health forced him to retire in 1997. He died on 3 July 2003.
, the son of a magistrate. He won a scholarship to study at Epsom College
, starting there in 1940, At Epsom he won a scholarship to study history at Brasenose College, Oxford
, before switching to law. In 1951 he helped found the Bow Group
and was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn
as an Atkin Scholar. After a pupillage
with Stanley Rees at 1 Crown Office Row, McCowan specialised in criminal, property and personal injury law, practising in London and on the South East Circuit, and became noted for his skill at cross-examination
. In 1971 he became a Recorder
, He became a Queen's Counsel
(QC) in 1972, and leader of the South Eastern Circuit in 1978, having been appointed Deputy Chairman of the East Sussex Quarter Sessions in 1969.
, and received the customary knighthood
the following month. In 1982 he became a member of the Parole Board for England and Wales
, and the same year joined the Crown Court Rule Committee. In 1985 he judged the case of Clive Ponting
, a British civil servant who had been charged with violating section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911
after leaking documents about the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano
. Ponting's defence (that his actions were in the interests of the state, as they prevented Parliament from being misled) was rejected by McCowan, who summed up in favour of the prosecution - nevertheless, the jury found Ponting not guilty. In 1986 McCowan became Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit.
On 3 October 1989 McCowan was appointed to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
, and made a Privy Councillor. As an Appeals judge he ordered an inquest into the death of Roberto Calvi
, also known as God's Banker, and in 1991 was part of the panel that heard the appeal of the Maguire Seven. The same year he was made Senior Presiding Judge of England and Wales, a position he held until ill-health forced him to resign in 1995. He resigned from the Bench two years later, and died on 3 July 2003.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
PC (12 January 1928 - 3 July 2003) was a British barrister and judge of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
and Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
best known for trying the case of Clive Ponting
Clive Ponting
Clive Ponting is a British writer, former academic and former senior civil servant. He is the author of a number of revisionist books on British and world history...
in 1985. After studying at Epsom College
Epsom College
Epsom College is an independent co-educational public school in Epsom, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1853 to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orphans , Epsom's long-standing association with medicine was estimated in 1980 as...
he won a scholarship to study history at Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, where he switched to law, and he was called to the Bar in 1951. After gaining a strong practice in criminal, property and personal injury law he was made a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1972, and was appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
in 1981. In 1989 he became a judge of the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
, but only sat for eight years until ill health forced him to retire in 1997. He died on 3 July 2003.
Early life, education and work as a barrister
McCowan was born on 12 January 1928 in Georgetown, GuyanaGeorgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves...
, the son of a magistrate. He won a scholarship to study at Epsom College
Epsom College
Epsom College is an independent co-educational public school in Epsom, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1853 to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orphans , Epsom's long-standing association with medicine was estimated in 1980 as...
, starting there in 1940, At Epsom he won a scholarship to study history at Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, before switching to law. In 1951 he helped found the Bow Group
Bow Group
The Bow Group is one of the oldest think tanks in the United Kingdom. Taking its name from the Bow area of London where it first met, it was founded in 1951...
and was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
as an Atkin Scholar. After a pupillage
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
with Stanley Rees at 1 Crown Office Row, McCowan specialised in criminal, property and personal injury law, practising in London and on the South East Circuit, and became noted for his skill at cross-examination
Cross-examination
In law, cross-examination is the interrogation of a witness called by one's opponent. It is preceded by direct examination and may be followed by a redirect .- Variations by Jurisdiction :In...
. In 1971 he became a Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
, He became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(QC) in 1972, and leader of the South Eastern Circuit in 1978, having been appointed Deputy Chairman of the East Sussex Quarter Sessions in 1969.
Judge
On 2 June 1981 he was appointed to the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of JusticeHigh Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, and received the customary knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
the following month. In 1982 he became a member of the Parole Board for England and Wales
Parole Board for England and Wales
The Parole Board for England and Wales was established in 1968 under the Criminal Justice Act of 1967. It became an independent executive non-departmental public body on 1 July 1996 under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The Parole Board's role is to make risk assessments about...
, and the same year joined the Crown Court Rule Committee. In 1985 he judged the case of Clive Ponting
Clive Ponting
Clive Ponting is a British writer, former academic and former senior civil servant. He is the author of a number of revisionist books on British and world history...
, a British civil servant who had been charged with violating section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911
Official Secrets Act 1911
The Official Secrets Act 1911 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaces the Official Secrets Act 1889....
after leaking documents about the sinking of the ARA General Belgrano
ARA General Belgrano
The ARA General Belgrano was an Argentine Navy light cruiser in service from 1951 until 1982. Formerly the , she saw action in the Pacific theater of World War II before being sold to Argentina. After almost 31 years of service, she was sunk during the Falklands War by the Royal Navy submarine ...
. Ponting's defence (that his actions were in the interests of the state, as they prevented Parliament from being misled) was rejected by McCowan, who summed up in favour of the prosecution - nevertheless, the jury found Ponting not guilty. In 1986 McCowan became Presiding Judge of the South Eastern Circuit.
On 3 October 1989 McCowan was appointed to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
, and made a Privy Councillor. As an Appeals judge he ordered an inquest into the death of Roberto Calvi
Roberto Calvi
Roberto Calvi was an Italian banker dubbed "God's Banker" by the press because of his close association with the Holy See. A native of Milan, Calvi was Chairman of Banco Ambrosiano, which collapsed in one of modern Italy's biggest political scandals...
, also known as God's Banker, and in 1991 was part of the panel that heard the appeal of the Maguire Seven. The same year he was made Senior Presiding Judge of England and Wales, a position he held until ill-health forced him to resign in 1995. He resigned from the Bench two years later, and died on 3 July 2003.