Johan Steyn, Baron Steyn

Johan van Zyl Steyn, Baron Steyn PC ( born August 15, 1932 in Cape Town ) is a South African- British lawyer and was until September 2005 Law Lord.

Life and career

Steyn was born in 1932 in Cape Town and studied law at the University of Stellenbosch, before studying English at University College as a Rhodes Scholar.

In 1958 he was admitted as a lawyer in South Africa and was appointed Senior Counsel in 1970 the Supreme Court of South Africa. As a result of his opposition against the apartheid in South Africa, he came in 1973 in the UK. There he was again working as a lawyer and built a respected law practice on. In 1979 he became Attorney-General and in 1985 judge of the High Court, a surprising appointment by the then Lord Chancellor Quintin Hogg McGarel. From 1989 to 1991 he was Chief Judge of the Northern Circuit, he was appointed Lord Justice of Appeal in 1992.

Steyn 1985 Presiding Judge ( Bencher ) In the Bar Lincoln 's Inn. From 1987 to 1988 he was Chairman ( Chairman ) of the Race Relations Committee of Bar from 1990 to 1994, he held that post at the Departmental Advisory Committee on Arbitration Law from. He then from 1994 to 1996 Chairman of the Lord Chacellor 's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct, and since 2005 by the Council Justice.

Since 2005 he is a member of Essex Court Chambers. He is chairman of the Takeover Panel Appeal Board.

Membership in the House of Lords

1995 Steyn was appointed Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, and thus also to the Life peer as Baron Steyn, of Swafield in the County of Norfolk. When Law Lord he gained prominence for his liberal views and his commitment to human rights. He was critical of the immunity of Augusto Pinochet.

His criticism of the Camp X -Ray at Guantanamo Bay led to pressure from the British government that he was absent from the hearing for the indefinite detention of suspects under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, which began on 4 October 2004. The decision in the later case ensured that the government of this policy thought and equally controversial Terrorism Bill 2005,.

His legal work in the House of Lords was significant in the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998 into UK law. He also used his background as a business lawyer, his contributions in this area are classified as significant. He was a high-level of a few lawyers who supported calls for modernization of the English judicial system and the abolition of the role of the Lord Chancellor.

Steyn appeared as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary on 30 September 2005 to retire. Lord Mance was succeeded on 1 October 2005. Since his retirement he has the chair of the human rights organization Justice inn and fell by critical statements on the human rights policy of the government of Tony Blair.

His presence at meeting days is in the range sporadic.

Family

Steyn married in 1977 Susan Leonore. From his previous marriage to Jean Pollard he has two sons and two daughters.

Honors

1985 Steyn was a Knight Bachelor. He was admitted to the Privy Council in 1992.

He became an honorary member of the American Law Institute in 1999 and 2002 at the Society of Legal Scholars. When Queen Mary, University of London Steyn was 1993-1994 Doctor of Laws ( Hon LLD). In 1998 he was at the University of East Anglia. Steyn was 2005 Honorary Fellow of University College London.