Leslie Scarman, Baron Scarman

The Right Honourable The Lord Scarman OBEPC
Born	Leslie George Scarman (1911-07-29)29 July 1911 Streatham, London,England
Died	8 December 2004(2004-12-08)(aged 93) Westgate-on-SeaKent, England
Resting place	St Mary Magdeline Church,Monkton, Kent,England
Alma mater	Brasenose College, Oxford
Occupations	Judge barrister
Title	Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Term	1977–1986
Spouse	Ruth Wright ​ (m.1947)​
Children	1

Leslie George Scarman, Baron Scarman,OBE,PC(29 July 1911 – 8 December 2004) was an Englishjudgeandbarristerwho served as aLaw Lorduntil his retirement in 1986. He was described as an "outstanding judicial figure, entrusted with the most high-profile inquiries and marked by his integrity".

Early life and education

Scarman was born inStreathambut grew up on the border ofSussexandSurrey.He won scholarships toRadley Collegeand thenBrasenose College, Oxford,where he read Classics, graduating in 1932 with a double first.

Legal career

He was called to the bar at theMiddle Templein 1936. He remained briefless untilWorld War II,which he spent in theRoyal Air Forceas a staff officer in England, North Africa, and then continental Europe. He was present withArthur TedderwhenAlfred Jodlsurrendered atReims.He was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire(OBE) in 1944. He returned to law in 1945, practising from chambers at 2, Crown Office Row, known since the 1970s asFountain Court Chambers,and in the late 1940s and early 1950s he started to build the chambers' reputation for commercial litigation, together withAlan OrrandMelford Stevenson,supported by a notable clerk, Cyril Batchelor.He became aQueen's Counselin 1957.

Scarman was appointed aHigh Court judgein 1961, assigned to theProbate, Divorce and Admiralty Division,transferring to theFamily Divisionwhen the latter was created in 1971. On his appointment he received the customaryknighthood.He joined theCourt of Appealin 1973, and was sworn of the Privy Council. On 30 September 1977, Scarman was made aLord of Appeal in Ordinary,becomingBaron Scarman,ofQuattin theCounty of Salop.He served in the Lords until his retirement in 1986.

He was appointed head of theLaw Commissionfrom 1965 to 1973, during which time 27 commission-inspired statutes were made law. As a judge, Scarman's career had some controversial decisions. Although widely regarded as a liberal, heupheldtheblasphemyconviction ofGay News(1979), punctured theGLC'sFares Fairlow-cost public transport policy (1981) and supported the banning oftrade unionsatGCHQ(1985).

He presided over the 1972 inquiry into theNorthern Ireland riots of August 1969and thepublic inquiryon the causes of therace riotsinBrixton in 1981.He also chaired theRed Lion Square disorders(1975) and theGrunwick dispute(1977) inquiries.

Later life

After entering the House of Lords the more liberal aspects of his character dominated: he was chancellor of theUniversity of Warwickand president of the British Institute of Human Rights, and worked on behalf of thePrince's Trust,theBirmingham SixandCharter 88.Scarman was elected to theAmerican Philosophical Societyin 1983.In 1991 he set up theScarman Trustaimed at helping young people from deprived communities.

Personal life and death

He married Ruth Wright in 1947, with whom he had one son. He died in 2004 at his home inWestgate-on-Sea.

Notable judgments

• Crabb v Arun District Council[1975] EWCA Civ 7
• Whitehouse v Lemon[1979] 2 WLR 281
• Pao On v Lau Yiu Long[1980] AC 614
• Sidaway v Board of Governors of the Bethlem Royal Hospital[1985] AC 871

In popular culture

Scarman appeared inthe final episodeof series one of theBBC1dramaAshes to Ashes,played byGeoffrey Palmer.

External links

• BBC News on the Scarman Report
• Report of Scarman's death(The Guardian)