David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Hope of Craighead
|
|
|---|---|
Hope in 2018
|
|
| Convenor of the Crossbench Peers | |
| In office 28 September 2015 – September 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | The Lord Laming |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Judge |
| Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom |
|
| In office 1 October 2009 – 26 June 2013 |
|
| 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 |
|
| Preceded by | The Lord Hoffmann |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 1 October 1996 – 1 October 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | The Lord Keith of Kinkel |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Lord Justice General Lord President of the Court of Session |
|
| In office 1989–1996 |
|
| Preceded by | The Lord Emslie |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Rodger of Earlsferry |
| Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde | |
| In office 1998–2013 |
|
| Deputy | Sir Jim McDonald |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Smith of Kelvin |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
|
| Assumed office 28 February 1995 Life Peerage |
|
| 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 27 June 1938) is a retired judge from Scotland. He held some of the most important legal jobs in the country. He was Scotland's most senior judge, the Lord President of the Court of Session. Later, he became the first Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom when it was created in 2009.
After retiring in 2013, he continued to work as an arbitrator, which is like a private judge who helps settle disagreements. He has also worked as the Chief Justice of the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts. Lord Hope has written five books of his diaries about his life and career. He is also a member of the House of Lords, where he helps make laws.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Hope was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 27 June 1938. His father was a lawyer. An ancestor of his, Charles Hope, Lord Granton, was also the top judge in Scotland in the 1800s.
Hope went to the Edinburgh Academy and then Rugby School. Before university, he served in the British Army with the Seaforth Highlanders from 1957 to 1959.
After his army service, he studied Classics at the University of Cambridge. He then studied law at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1965.
In 1966, Hope married Katharine Mary Kerr. They have twin sons and a daughter.
A Career in Law
Working as a Lawyer
In 1965, Hope became an advocate, which is a special type of lawyer in Scotland. He was very successful and became a Queen's Counsel in 1978, a title given to top lawyers.
From 1978 to 1982, he worked as an Advocate Depute, representing the government in criminal cases. Between 1986 and 1989, he was the leader of all of Scotland's advocates, a position called the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates.
Becoming a Top Judge
In 1989, Hope was appointed as a judge and became the Lord President of the Court of Session. This made him the most senior judge in all of Scotland. At the same time, he became a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the monarch.
In 1995, he was given a life peerage, which means he became a member of the House of Lords for life. His official title is Baron Hope of Craighead.
In 1996, he moved to London to become a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. These judges, also known as Law Lords, were the highest court in the UK at the time. In 2009, the system changed, and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was created. Lord Hope became its first Deputy President and served until he retired in 2013.
Life After Retirement
Working as an Arbitrator
After retiring as a judge, Lord Hope began working as a private arbitrator. Arbitrators help people and companies solve legal disputes without going to a public court. He joined legal chambers in both London and Edinburgh to do this work.
Work in Abu Dhabi
From 2015, Lord Hope served as the Chief Justice of the Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts. This is a special financial court in the United Arab Emirates.
Role in the House of Lords
As a member of the House of Lords, Lord Hope is a Crossbencher. This means he does not belong to any political party. From 2015 to 2019, he was the leader of the Crossbench peers.
In 2024, he used his legal experience to suggest changes to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. He argued that his changes would help fix problems in the proposed law.
Diaries and Historical Papers
Lord Hope has kept detailed diaries throughout his career. Starting in 2018, he published them in five books. The diaries give a behind-the-scenes look at his life as a top lawyer and judge.
In 2014, he also donated 90 files of his professional and personal papers to the National Library of Scotland. These documents, from 1953 to 2014, are available for anyone to study.
Famous Court Cases
During his long career, Lord Hope was involved in many important legal cases. Here are a few examples:
- As Deputy President of the Supreme Court
R (E) v Jewish Free School (2009): This case was about whether a school could use religious background as a reason to refuse a student. Campbell v Mirror Group Newspapers Ltd (2004): This case dealt with a person's right to privacy against newspapers. Austin v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (2009): This case looked at the police tactic of "kettling," where they contain protestors in one area.
- As Lord President of Scotland
West v Secretary of State for Scotland (1992): This case helped define the rules for how courts in Scotland can review government decisions. Jamieson v HM Advocate (1994): This case was important in defining the meaning of consent in Scots law.
Honours and Awards
Lord Hope has received many honours for his work.
- He was the Chancellor (head) of the University of Strathclyde from 1998 to 2013.
- He has received honorary degrees from the universities of Strathclyde, Aberdeen, and Edinburgh.
- In 2009, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him to the Order of the Thistle. This is the highest honour in Scotland.
  |
|
See also
- List of Senators of the College of Justice
- Courts of Scotland
- Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts
