Alfred Denning, Baron Denning
Alfred Thompson Denning, Baron Denning, OM ( born January 23, 1899 in Whitchurch, † March 5, 1999 in Winchester ) was probably the most influential of the 20th century English judge and Master of the Rolls.
Training
Denning was born as the fourth of five sons of a cloth merchant and a teacher. Two of his brothers fell in the First World War, the other two made careers in the military and was admiral or general. Denning himself served in the First World War as a lieutenant.
After his military service, he completed his studies in mathematics at the University of Oxford at Magdalen College with honors. After a short stint as a math teacher, he returned in 1921 returned to Oxford and studied law. Also this study he finished with a first class degree.
Professional career
1923 Denning was admitted as a lawyer ( barrister ) in London (King 's Counsel ) appointed in 1938 to the Attorney-General.
In 1944 he was appointed Judge of the High Court and in 1948 to the Court of Appeal, the second highest court in England and Wales. In 1957 he was appointed a Law Lord as Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, judges in the House of Lords and automatically collected thus also to a life peer as Baron Denning, of Whitchurch in the County of Southampton. Five years later he returned as president ( Master of the Rolls ) to the Court of Appeal, where he remained until the end of his judicial activity in 1982.
Denning was the last judge of Britain, who was not tied to a statutory retirement age. At the age of 83 years he was in 1982, however, forced to retire after he made in a book written by him remarks on the suitability of the jury, which were interpreted as racist. Denning apologized for his chosen formulation and resigned his judgeship.
As a judge at the Court of Appeal succeeded Denning to shape the development of law in the UK prevail. His widely-praised for its clear style judgments made him a national celebrity, also far beyond specialist circles. He was not afraid to be interpreted very widely in his judgment the right reasons, for which he won praise and admiration, but also strong criticism, especially since, according to many critics consider some of his arguments seemed colored by prejudice. Nevertheless, he was in his lifetime a national icon and a living legend.
Even after his retirement to Denning devoted more of jurisprudence. In numerous publications and interviews as well as through his work in the parliamentary part of the House of Lords, where he served on, he knew, in his opinion continue to be heard.
Denning died six weeks after his hundredth birthday in a hospital in Winchester.
The British Crown awarded him the Order of Merit.