John Wall (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Anthony Wall CBE
(4 June 1930 – 1 December 2008) was a British lawyer and the first visually impaired judge of the High Court of Justice
of the 20th century.
He was born in North London
suffering from glaucoma
, which caused him to go completely blind by the age of eight. After his blindness took hold he transferred to Chorleywood School for the Blind, where he stayed until 1940 when he moved to Worcester College for the Blind (now New College Worcester
. Despite only being 14 (two years younger than usual) he took his School Certificate
in 1944, scoring highest in his class. After further strong academic performance he was accepted into Balliol College, Oxford
where he read jurisprudence
and graduated in 1951.
His blindness presented him with difficulties in finding a job; after graduation he applied to over 400 companies and was invited to 53 interviews before he was offered a job as a clerk at Wilkins, Rowan and Newman, a small law firm in Chelsea
. He became a solicitor in 1954, and in 1956 began working for the National Association of Local Government Officers
as a legal adviser. Around this time he attempted to become a judge; he was rejected due to the difficulties his blindness would cause (leaving him unable to read court documents or study witnesses, for example) and because it was felt appointing a blind judge would not leave the public confident he could perform his duties.
In 1974 he joined the law firm Middleton Lewis as a partner specialising in litigation, staying on when the firm merged with Lawrence Graham
in 1977. He again applied to become a judge in 1990 and was this time successful, being appointed a Deputy Master of the High Court in the Chancery Division. He was formally appointed in 1991, and was noted for his speed, work ethic and efficiency. In 1993 he retired as a partner at Lawrence Graham. He was chairman of the Royal National Institute for the Blind from 1990 to 2000, and in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours
he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), "For services to Blind People", and was knighted
in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, "For services to Disabled People". He stepped down from his position as a judge in 2004. He died on December 1, 2008 of heart failure.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(4 June 1930 – 1 December 2008) was a British lawyer and the first visually impaired 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...
of the 20th century.
He was born in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
suffering from glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
, which caused him to go completely blind by the age of eight. After his blindness took hold he transferred to Chorleywood School for the Blind, where he stayed until 1940 when he moved to Worcester College for the Blind (now New College Worcester
New College Worcester
New College Worcester is a residential secondary school for students, aged 11–19, who are blind or partially sighted. It caters for around 80 students including those who have other special needs or disabilities along with their visual impairment. It is located in the city of Worcester, England...
. Despite only being 14 (two years younger than usual) he took his School Certificate
School Certificate (UK)
The School Certificate was a United Kingdom educational attainment standard qualification, established in 1918. The School Certificate Examination was usually taken at age 16 and it was necessary to pass Mathematics, English and other subjects in order to gain the certificate...
in 1944, scoring highest in his class. After further strong academic performance he was accepted into Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
where he read jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
and graduated in 1951.
His blindness presented him with difficulties in finding a job; after graduation he applied to over 400 companies and was invited to 53 interviews before he was offered a job as a clerk at Wilkins, Rowan and Newman, a small law firm in Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
. He became a solicitor in 1954, and in 1956 began working for the National Association of Local Government Officers
National Association of Local Government Officers
The National and Local Government Officers Association was a British trade union representing mostly local government "white collar" workers. It was formed in 1905 as the National Association of Local Government Officers, and changed its full name in 1952 while retaining its widely-used acronym,...
as a legal adviser. Around this time he attempted to become a judge; he was rejected due to the difficulties his blindness would cause (leaving him unable to read court documents or study witnesses, for example) and because it was felt appointing a blind judge would not leave the public confident he could perform his duties.
In 1974 he joined the law firm Middleton Lewis as a partner specialising in litigation, staying on when the firm merged with Lawrence Graham
Lawrence Graham
Lawrence Graham LLP is a law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The firm has over 180 lawyers, and as well as London it has offices in Dubai, Moscow and Monaco.-History:...
in 1977. He again applied to become a judge in 1990 and was this time successful, being appointed a Deputy Master of the High Court in the Chancery Division. He was formally appointed in 1991, and was noted for his speed, work ethic and efficiency. In 1993 he retired as a partner at Lawrence Graham. He was chairman of the Royal National Institute for the Blind from 1990 to 2000, and in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), "For services to Blind People", and was knighted
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...
in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, "For services to Disabled People". He stepped down from his position as a judge in 2004. He died on December 1, 2008 of heart failure.