RIP Sir John Laws 1945-2020
Discussion
Sir John Laws, retired Lord Justice of Appeal, has died as a result of the virus.
Laws was the finest advocate I ever saw argue a case in Court. He went on to be a distinguished Judge, noted for his exemplary clarity of writing, polished literary style, and strong adherence to the principles of Constitutional legality. He was a defender of liberty under the law in the manner of Lord Mansfield, a Judge whom he much admired. John was an erudite classicist, and an entertaining raconteur. A warm and sociable man, he liked a drink and a joke, and the former probably prevented him from advancing to the House of Lords/Supreme Court.
He's the first person whom I knew personally who has succumbed to the virus. I fear that he shall not be the last.
Laws was the finest advocate I ever saw argue a case in Court. He went on to be a distinguished Judge, noted for his exemplary clarity of writing, polished literary style, and strong adherence to the principles of Constitutional legality. He was a defender of liberty under the law in the manner of Lord Mansfield, a Judge whom he much admired. John was an erudite classicist, and an entertaining raconteur. A warm and sociable man, he liked a drink and a joke, and the former probably prevented him from advancing to the House of Lords/Supreme Court.
He's the first person whom I knew personally who has succumbed to the virus. I fear that he shall not be the last.
He was the senior judge in the famous 'Metric Martyrs' case - https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2002/19...
That case is mainly of interest for Laws' observations on the doctrine of implied repeal and its effect on Constitutional statutes. The actual dispute was a storm in a teacup, as the EU turned out not to give a toss about stuff being sold by reference to Imperial as well as metric measures.
Counsel for the so-called martyrs was bats
t crazy loon and conspiracy theorist Michael Shrimpton, at that time still a barrister (he has been disbarred since, for child porn and bomb hoax offences). Laws dealt with Shrimpton's bonkers arguments with typical economy of expression.
Counsel for the so-called martyrs was bats
t crazy loon and conspiracy theorist Michael Shrimpton, at that time still a barrister (he has been disbarred since, for child porn and bomb hoax offences). Laws dealt with Shrimpton's bonkers arguments with typical economy of expression. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff