Brian Kerr, Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore PC
Kerr in 2016
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
In office 1 October 2009 – 30 September 2020
Nominated by	Jack Straw
Appointed by	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	The Lord Stephens of Creevyloughgare
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
In office 1 July – 30 September 2009
Preceded by	The Lord Carswell
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
In office 2004–2009
Appointed by	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Sir Robert Carswell
Succeeded by	Sir Declan Morgan
Personal details
Born	(1949-02-23)23 February 1949 Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, U.K.
Died	1 December 2020(2020-12-01) (aged 71)
Nationality	British, Irish
Spouse	Gillian Widdowson
Children	2
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast

Brian Francis Kerr, Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore (born February 23, 1949 – died December 1, 2020) was a very important judge from Northern Ireland. He worked as a barrister, which is a type of lawyer, and later became a senior judge.

He held two very important jobs: first, he was the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, which is the top judge in Northern Ireland. After that, he became a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, which is the highest court in the UK. In 2009, he was the last person to be given a special title called a "life peerage" under an old law. This means he became a "Lord" for the rest of his life. When he retired in 2020, he had served the longest on the Supreme Court and was the last of its first members.

Early Life and Education

Brian Kerr was born on February 23, 1949, in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. His parents were James William Kerr and Kathleen Rose Kerr.

He went to St Colman's College, Newry, for his schooling. Later, he studied law at Queen's University Belfast. After finishing his studies, he became a barrister in Northern Ireland in 1970. He also became a barrister in England and Wales in 1975. In 1983, he became a "King's Counsel," which is a special title for experienced barristers. He also joined the Bar of Ireland in 1990.

Becoming a Judge

Working in Northern Ireland

In 1993, Brian Kerr became a High Court Judge in Northern Ireland. He was also knighted, which means he received the title "Sir." In 2004, he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. He was only the second Roman Catholic to hold this very important position.

During his time as a judge, he saw how important it was for everyone to follow the law fairly. He believed that certain actions taken in the past, like holding people without trial, were very bad for the idea of "rule of law." He also worked in special courts without juries, which were set up to handle difficult cases. He thought these courts, which had an automatic right to appeal, could sometimes be even better than jury trials.

When the previous Lord Chief Justice retired, Brian Kerr took his place as a "Lord of Appeal in Ordinary" for Northern Ireland.

Joining the UK Supreme Court

On June 29, 2009, Brian Kerr was given the title Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. He was the very last person to be appointed a "Lord of Appeal in Ordinary" under an old law.

Then, on October 1, 2009, he became one of the first Justices of the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. This court is the highest court in the UK. At 61, he was the youngest judge on the new Supreme Court.

Lord Kerr was known for asking tough questions, especially in important cases. For example, in the "Brexit" cases in 2016 and 2019, he closely questioned the government's arguments. He also spoke about how important it was to hear the stories of people who had difficult experiences in court. He said, "One only has to read the dreadful circumstances of the young women who were courageous enough to give … an account of their experiences in order to be struck how dreadful those experiences were... It was an extremely important case and one which I was very pleased to be part of."

In 2014, Ulster University gave Lord Kerr an honorary doctorate in law, which is a special award. He retired from the Supreme Court on September 30, 2020.

Defending the Law

After he retired, Lord Kerr continued to speak up for important legal ideas. He defended "judicial review," which is when courts check if government decisions are lawful. He also supported the cost of creating the Supreme Court, saying it was important for justice.

Personal Life

Brian Kerr married Gillian Widdowson in 1970, and they had two sons. He was a Roman Catholic.

Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore passed away on December 1, 2020, at the age of 71. Lady Kerr passed away in July 2022.

See also

• List of Northern Ireland Members of the House of Lords
• List of Northern Ireland members of the Privy Council
• R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
• R (Miller) v The Prime Minister and Cherry v Advocate General for Scotland

Images for kids

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  The coat of arms for Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore.