David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Hope of Craighead
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Hope in 2018
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| Convenor of the Crossbench Peers | |
| In office 28 September 2015 – September 2019 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Laming |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Judge |
| Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom |
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| In office 1 October 2009 – 26 June 2013 |
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| Nominated by | Jack Straw |
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II |
| President | The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | The Baroness Hale of Richmond |
| Second Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 21 April 2009 – 1 October 2009 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Hoffmann |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 1 October 1996 – 1 October 2009 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Keith of Kinkel |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Lord Justice General Lord President of the Court of Session |
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| In office 1989–1996 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Emslie |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry |
| Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde | |
| In office 1998–2013 |
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| Deputy | Sir Jim McDonald |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Smith of Kelvin |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 28 February 1995 Life Peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Arthur David Hope
27 June 1938 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Crossbencher |
| Spouse | Katharine Mary Kerr |
| Residence | Edinburgh |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge; University of Edinburgh |
| Profession | Advocate |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1957–59 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Seaforth Highlanders |
James Arthur David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead, born on June 27, 1938, is a retired Scottish judge. He held some of the highest legal positions in Scotland and the United Kingdom. He was Scotland's most senior judge, known as the Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General. Later, he became the first Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. After retiring from these roles, he continued to work as a judge in the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts.
Lord Hope has also written five books about his life and experiences, called diaries. He has held other important roles, like representing the Queen at the Church of Scotland's General Assembly. He was also the leader of the independent members (called Crossbench peers) in the House of Lords.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Background and Family
David Hope was born on June 27, 1938, in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, Arthur Henry Cecil Hope, was a lawyer. David Hope is also a descendant of Charles Hope, Lord Granton, who was a very important judge in Scotland many years ago.
He went to school at Edinburgh Academy and Rugby School. After school, he joined the British Army for two years, from 1957 to 1959. He was an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders and reached the rank of lieutenant.
University Studies
In 1959, he started studying Classics at St John's College, which is part of the University of Cambridge. He earned his first degree in 1962. Then, he returned to Scotland to study law at the University of Edinburgh. He completed his law degree in 1965.
Personal Life
In 1966, David Hope married Katharine Mary Kerr. They have twin sons and a daughter. Lord Hope of Craighead lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.
A Career in Law
Becoming a Lawyer
After finishing his studies, David Hope became an advocate (a type of lawyer in Scotland) in 1965. He became a Queen's Counsel in 1978, which means he was recognized as a very experienced and skilled lawyer.
He worked for the government, prosecuting cases for the Crown from 1978 to 1982. From 1986 to 1989, he was the leader of the Faculty of Advocates, which is the professional body for lawyers in Scotland.
Top Judge in Scotland
In 1989, David Hope became a judge in Scotland, taking the title Lord Hope. He was directly appointed to be the Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General. These are the highest judicial positions in Scotland. At this time, he also became a Privy Counsellor.
In 1995, he was given a special title for life, becoming Baron Hope of Craighead. This meant he could sit in the House of Lords.
Top Judge in the UK
Moving to the House of Lords
In 1996, Lord Hope of Craighead left his role as Lord President in Scotland to become a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. This was a very important judicial role in the House of Lords, which was the highest court in the UK at the time.
The UK Supreme Court
On October 1, 2009, a new court was created: the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Lord Hope became one of its first judges, called Justices. He was also appointed as the first Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He served in this role until he retired from the UK Bench on June 26, 2013.
Important Cases
During his time as a top judge, Lord Hope was involved in many important legal cases. These cases helped shape the law in the UK. For example, he worked on cases about:
- Fairness in school admissions.
- Privacy rights and criminal records.
- Rules for police holding suspects.
- The rights of patients to know all the facts before medical treatment.
- How property should be divided when a couple gets divorced.
- The rights of people with disabilities.
Life After the UK Bench
Working as an Arbitrator
After retiring from being a judge in the UK, Lord Hope of Craighead started working as an arbitrator. This means he helps people solve legal disagreements outside of court. He joined law firms in London and Edinburgh to do this work.
Serving in Abu Dhabi
From October 2015, Lord Hope of Craighead also served as the Chief Justice of the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts. This is a special court system in Abu Dhabi, a city in the United Arab Emirates. He continued in this role until December 2023.
Other Special Roles
Lord Hope of Craighead has held several honorary positions. In 2015, he was appointed as the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This is a role where he represented the Queen at the Church's annual meeting. He also led the Crossbench peers in the House of Lords from 2015 to 2019.
Awards and Recognition
Lord Hope of Craighead has received many awards and honors for his long and distinguished career in law.
- He was the Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde from 1998 to 2013.
- He has received honorary degrees (LL.D.) from several universities, including the University of Strathclyde, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Edinburgh.
- He is an honorary member of several legal organizations around the world.
On November 30, 2009, he received a very special honor: he was appointed to the Order of the Thistle by Queen Elizabeth II. This is the highest award for chivalry in Scotland, recognizing people who have made great contributions to national life. Lord Hope of Craighead even represented the Order at the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
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See also
- List of Senators of the College of Justice
- Courts of Scotland
- Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts
