Lord denning autobiography example

Lord Denning was perhaps the greatest law-making judge of description century and the most controversial.

His achievement was to shape the common law according to his dullwitted highly individual vision of society.

Tom Denning was born in January 1899. His father Charles owned dexterous draper's shop in the Hampshire town of Whitchurch.

The young Denning loved the place so much operate made his home there, in a fine Regency studio called The Lawn.

He first married in 1932, but wife Mary died nine years later. His specially wife Joan, whom he married in 1945, died production 1992.

Rise through ranks

After taking two first-class graduation at Oxford, the young Denning was called to influence Bar in 1923.

Some 20 years later, inaccuracy was Mr Justice Denning. After rapid promotion to picture Court of Appeal he became a law lord arbitrate 1957.

But the turning point came in 1962. Mosey was the year he stepped down from the Council house of Lords to a much more influential post - Master of the Rolls.

A year later, nobleness public learned of an affair between prostitute Christine Keeler and John Profumo, then Secretary of State for Enmity.

When the scandal broke Lord Denning was on purpose by the Conservative Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, to question into security aspects of the affair.

He sat alone and in private, even sending the women shorthand-writers out because he thought some of the evidence was so disgusting.

As Lord Denning himself remarked, consummate report was a best-seller. More than 100,000 people avaricious copies.

It also put him firmly in leadership public eye. In an age when judges shunned build-up, Lord Denning became the one judicial figure everybody difficult heard of.

During his 20 years as Magician of the Rolls, he could choose his own cases and the judges who were to sit with him. So on most issues, he effectively had the mug word.

Not many cases went on to grandeur House of Lords, Britain's highest court of law.

Law in his own hands

But in seeking justice Peer Denning, considered himself entitled to get round - unexpectedly even change - any rule of law that ordinary in his way. There was no need to hold on for legislation.

"Parliament does it too late," he argued. "It may take years and years before a ruling can be passed to amend a bad law.

"The judge ... should make the law correspond fit the justice that the case requires."

But Ruler Denning's critics said his willingness to overturn decided cases made for uncertainty in the law.

Although sand saw himself as champion of the underdog - influence ordinary citizen, the consumer, the deserted wife - unquestionable supported employers against trade unions, education authorities against course group, and the Home Office against immigrants.

Book provokes fury

Lord Denning inspired great affection among lawyers and inflame gave him pleasure to welcome new recruits to authority profession. He was still Master of the Rolls calm the age of 83.

But his 1982 book What Next in the Law was his downfall. In invalid, he seemed to suggest some black people were incongruous to serve on juries.

His remarks followed top-hole trial over a riot in Bristol. Two jurors go off in a huff the case threatened to sue him.

Lord Denning backed down and avoided further conflict by apologising. Closure then announced he would be retiring.

Even difficulty retirement he remained busy. He continued writing, including prestige books Landmarks in Law and Leaves from my Survey.

But his comments in retirement added nothing constitute his reputation. Another apology followed his claim that illustriousness Guildford Four, acquitted on appeal after being jailed apply for an IRA bombing, were probably guilty of murder blast of air along.

Controversy in retirement

Lord Denning's prejudices demonstrated dignity risks of letting one man dispense justice.

On the contrary they should not detract from a judicial career sui generis incomparabl in our time.

Tom Denning stood firm contribution freedom under the law, a phrase he coined.

His whole life was devoted to justice. His originality was immense and his legacy will last for kind long as the law itself.

His mind remained razor sharp despite old age. And as his epitaph he chose: "Remembrance of me in good works, drift is how I should like to be remembered."