Stephen Brown (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir Stephen Brown, GBE
is a judge
. He was a Lord Justice of Appeal
and a President of the Family Division
of the High Court of England and Wales.
. In 1951, he married Patricia Ann, daughter of Richard Good, Tenbury Wells, Worcs. They had twin sons and three daughters.
He lives in Harborne, Birmingham in England.
and Queens’ College, Cambridge.
Barrister
, Inner Temple, 1949 ; Bencher, 1974 ; Treasurer, 1994. Deputy Chairman, Staffordshire QS, 1963–71 ; Recorder of West Bromwich, 1965–71; QC
1966 ; a Recorder, and Honorary Recorder of West Bromwich
, 1972–75 ; a High Court judge
, Family Division, 1975–77 ; QBD
, 1977–83; Presiding Judge, Midland and Oxford Circuit, 1977–81.
Brown became a Privy Counsellor
in 1983 and was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal (1983–88) and, finally, President of the Family Division (1988–99) of the High Court of England and Wales. On 19 November 1992, he delivered the landmark ruling that doctors treating Tony Bland
, who had been in a Persistent vegetative state
since suffering serious brain damage
in the Hillsborough disaster
more than three years earlier, could withdraw food and treatment keeping him alive. Treatment was ultimately withdrawn on 22 February 1993, after the House of Lords
rejected an appeal by the Official Solicitor, and Mr Bland died on 3 March 1993.
Member: Parole Board, England and Wales, 1967–71; Butler Committee on mentally abnormal offenders, 1972–75; Advisory Council on Penal System, 1977; Chairman, Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors, 1971–75. Chairman Council, Malvern College
, 1976–94.
As of January 10, 2009, he is also a member of the Advisory Committee of Children’s Rights International.
He has served as President of several organisations : Edgbaston High School, 1989–; Malvernian Society, 1998–.
in 1975.
He has also been awarded an honorary fellowship and several honorary degrees : Honorary Fellow, Queen's College, Cambridge, 1984 ; Honorary LLD :University of Birmingham
, 1985 ; University of Leicester
, 1997 ; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honorary F.R.C.Psychology, 2000 ; University of the West of England 2000.
Brown was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1999.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. He was a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
and a President of the Family Division
President of the Family Division
The President of the Family Division is the head of the Family Division of the High Court of Justice in England and Wales. The Family division was created in 1971, out of the former Admiralty Court and probate courts into the then Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division.As of 13 April 2010,...
of the High Court of England and Wales.
Personal life
Born on October 3, 1924, he is the son of Wilfrid Brown and Nora Elizabeth Brown of Longdon Green, StaffordshireStaffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
. In 1951, he married Patricia Ann, daughter of Richard Good, Tenbury Wells, Worcs. They had twin sons and three daughters.
He lives in Harborne, Birmingham in England.
Education
Brown was educated at Malvern CollegeMalvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
and Queens’ College, Cambridge.
Career
From 1943 to 1946 Brown served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as a Lieutenant.Barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, Inner Temple, 1949 ; Bencher, 1974 ; Treasurer, 1994. Deputy Chairman, Staffordshire QS, 1963–71 ; Recorder of West Bromwich, 1965–71; QC
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...
1966 ; a Recorder, and Honorary Recorder of West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, 1972–75 ; a High Court judge
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
, Family Division, 1975–77 ; QBD
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
, 1977–83; Presiding Judge, Midland and Oxford Circuit, 1977–81.
Brown became a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1983 and was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal (1983–88) and, finally, President of the Family Division (1988–99) of the High Court of England and Wales. On 19 November 1992, he delivered the landmark ruling that doctors treating Tony Bland
Tony Bland
Anthony David Bland was a supporter of Liverpool F.C. injured in the Hillsborough disaster. He suffered severe brain damage that left him in a persistent vegetative state whereby the hospital, with the support of his parents, applied for a court order allowing him to 'die with dignity'...
, who had been in a Persistent vegetative state
Persistent vegetative state
A persistent vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness in which patients with severe brain damage are in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness. It is a diagnosis of some uncertainty in that it deals with a syndrome. After four weeks in a vegetative state , the patient is...
since suffering serious brain damage
Brain damage
"Brain damage" or "brain injury" is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors...
in the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
more than three years earlier, could withdraw food and treatment keeping him alive. Treatment was ultimately withdrawn on 22 February 1993, after the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
rejected an appeal by the Official Solicitor, and Mr Bland died on 3 March 1993.
Member: Parole Board, England and Wales, 1967–71; Butler Committee on mentally abnormal offenders, 1972–75; Advisory Council on Penal System, 1977; Chairman, Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors, 1971–75. Chairman Council, Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
, 1976–94.
As of January 10, 2009, he is also a member of the Advisory Committee of Children’s Rights International.
He has served as President of several organisations : Edgbaston High School, 1989–; Malvernian Society, 1998–.
Honours & Decorations
Brown was knightedKnight 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 1975.
He has also been awarded an honorary fellowship and several honorary degrees : Honorary Fellow, Queen's College, Cambridge, 1984 ; Honorary LLD :University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, 1985 ; University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, 1997 ; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honorary F.R.C.Psychology, 2000 ; University of the West of England 2000.
Brown was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1999.
External links
- Who's Who 2009