Donald Nicholls, Baron Nicholls of Birkenhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead
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Nicholls in the Pinochet case, 1998
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| Second Senior Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 1 October 2002 – 10 January 2007 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | The Lord Slynn of Hadley |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Hoffmann |
| Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 3 October 1994 – 10 January 2007 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Templeman |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 January 1933 United Kingdom |
| Died | 25 September 2019 (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Judge |
Donald James Nicholls, Baron Nicholls of Birkenhead (born January 25, 1933 – died September 25, 2019) was a very important British barrister. A barrister is a type of lawyer who speaks in court. He became a Law Lord, which is a senior judge in the UK.
Contents
Life and Career
Donald Nicholls went to Birkenhead School and then studied law. He attended Liverpool University and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. In 1958, he became a barrister. This means he was officially allowed to practice law.
He became a Queen's Counsel in 1974. This title is given to experienced barristers. Later, he became a High Court judge in 1983. This is a judge who hears serious cases. He was also made a knight, so people called him "Sir Donald."
In 1986, he became a Lord Justice of Appeal. These judges hear appeals from lower courts. He then joined the Privy Council. This is a group of advisors to the British monarch. By 1991, he was the Vice-Chancellor of the Supreme Court.
Becoming a Law Lord
In 1994, Donald Nicholls was appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. These judges were the highest judges in the UK at the time. When he became a Law Lord, he was also made a life peer. This meant he got the title Baron Nicholls of Birkenhead and could sit in the House of Lords.
The Pinochet Case
In 1998, Lord Nicholls and other Law Lords made a very important decision. They had to decide if Augusto Pinochet, a former leader of Chile, could be sent to Spain for trial. Pinochet was accused of serious human rights abuses.
Lord Nicholls and two other judges said that Pinochet was not immune from arrest. They believed that international laws against human rights abuses were more important. They argued that protecting Pinochet would be like protecting someone like Adolf Hitler. This decision showed that even powerful leaders can be held accountable for their actions.
Later Years and Retirement
Lord Nicholls became the Second Senior Law Lord in 2002. He retired in 2007. After retirement, he continued to be involved in legal work. From 1998 to 2004, he was a judge in Hong Kong's highest court. He retired from the House of Lords in 2017. Lord Nicholls passed away on September 25, 2019, at the age of 86.
See also
Images for kids
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The coronet of a British Baron.
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The coat of arms for Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead.
