Brian Hutton, Baron Hutton facts for kids

James Brian Edward Hutton, also known as Baron Hutton, was an important British judge. He served as the top judge in Northern Ireland and later as a senior judge in the UK's highest court. He was born on June 29, 1932, and passed away on July 14, 2020.

Who Was Baron Hutton?

James Brian Edward Hutton was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1932. His father worked for the railways. He was a very bright student and earned a scholarship to attend Shrewsbury School.

After school, he went to Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied law. He then returned to Belfast to become a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He became a barrister in 1954.

Becoming a Judge

In 1969, he started working for the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. This is a top legal advisor to the government. A year later, in 1970, he became a Queen's Counsel, which is a special title for experienced barristers.

From 1979 to 1989, he served as a High Court judge. In 1989, he became the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. This is the most senior judge in Northern Ireland.

Later, in 1997, he moved to England to become a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. This meant he was one of the most senior judges in the UK, working in the highest court. At this time, he was given the special title of Baron Hutton.

Important Cases and Inquiries

Lord Hutton was involved in many important legal cases during his career. He was known for being careful and fair in his judgments.

Key Legal Decisions

In 1994, as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, he heard an appeal for a soldier named Lee Clegg. Lord Hutton upheld the soldier's murder conviction.

In 2002, he was one of four senior judges who decided that a former intelligence officer, David Shayler, could not use a "public interest" defense in his trial. This was related to the Official Secrets Act 1989.

Bloody Sunday Inquiry

Lord Hutton also represented the Ministry of Defence at an investigation into the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972. This was a tragic event where 14 civil rights marchers were killed.

He later spoke out when the coroner (the official investigating the deaths) accused soldiers of murder. Lord Hutton said this went against earlier findings.

Augusto Pinochet Case

In 1999, Lord Hutton was part of a group of judges who looked at whether former Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet should be sent to Spain for trial. Pinochet had been arrested in London.

Initially, a group of five judges voted to send Pinochet to Spain. However, this decision was later overturned by a larger group of seven judges, including Lord Hutton. They decided that one of the original judges had a connection to a human rights group that was campaigning against Pinochet. This showed how important it is for judges to be completely unbiased.

Human Rights and Informers

In 1978, Lord Hutton defended the UK in a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The court decided that certain methods used in Northern Ireland were "inhuman and degrading" but not torture.

He also sentenced 10 men to long prison terms based on the testimony of an informer named Robert Quigley. Quigley was given immunity from prosecution for his cooperation.

The Hutton Inquiry

One of Lord Hutton's most well-known roles was leading an inquiry into the death of scientist David Kelly. This inquiry started in August 2003.

When Lord Hutton released his report in January 2004, he largely cleared the British government of wrongdoing. However, he was quite critical of the BBC. Some people felt his report was too easy on the government and too harsh on the BBC. One newspaper even used the headline "Whitewash?"

Despite some criticism, many people who knew Lord Hutton's work in Northern Ireland believed he was always fair and independent. He was known for being careful in his judgments and not easily swayed.

Lord Hutton retired as a senior judge on January 11, 2004. He remained a member of the House of Lords until April 23, 2018. He passed away on July 14, 2020, at the age of 88.

See Also

• Members of the House of Lords
• Judicial functions of the House of Lords
• List of jurists