Lord Denning

by James Wilson

ISBN: 9780854902941

Published: 2023-03-17

Lord Denning was the most famous English judge of the twentieth century. Arguably, he was the most famous of any century. His judgments were legendary for both their style and substance. The style was instantly recognisable, with his short sentences and unique method of storytelling. The substance was always less about law and more about justice, as Denning looked for the fairest outcome to every case before him. Over time, Denning's views on justice and his manipulation of precedent became increasingly controversial. As society changed around him, he adhered rigidly to the Edwardian morality of his childhood. His report on the Profumo Affair - the most sensational political scandal of post-war Britain - was dismissed by some as an 'establishment whitewash'. His rulings in trade union disputes earned him many critics, while his dismissal of the appeal of the 'Birmingham Six' falsely convicted of a terrorist atrocity became notorious when a gross miscarriage of justice was later...