Lord Igor Judge

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of Lord Igor Judge, our esteemed colleague from The Dickson Poon School of Law. 

Lord Judge was the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2008-13, and a Distinguished Visitor and Visiting Professor at The Dickson Poon School of Law.  

Lasting impression 

Within the School, Lord Judge left a lasting impression. He was renowned for his formidable legal reasoning and remarkable compassion. His agreeable and empathetic character, coupled with his non-judgmental attitude towards others, made him admirable.  

This was evident in his teaching style, particularly in his long-standing seminar series at the school titled Contested Questions. Lord Judge liked his students to grapple, not only with the technicalities of law, but with the moral dilemmas underpinning legal reasoning.  

Explosive arrival 

Lord Judge was born in Malta during a World War II bombing raid to Raymond and Rosa, whose experiences during the war greatly influenced his perspective on the world. He was deeply dedicated to the law as an imperfect but valuable tool for ensuring that all people could have their voices heard in times of need. 

Lord Judge was a man guided by strong morals. He was passionate about raising awareness of the so-called Henry VIII clauses. These are clauses in bills that allow ministers to change or remove provisions in an Act of Parliament using secondary legislation, giving them extensive and unchecked powers. In July 2010, at the Lord Mayor's Annual Dinner, Lord Judge argued that such clauses should be completely eliminated, a stance that gained him recognition and admiration from human rights and legal advocacy groups like Liberty. 

Arts lover 

He had a deep love and appreciation for the arts, aesthetics, music, history and literature, all of which influenced his legal thinking and use of language. He spoke with passion about composer Sibelius, whose eight symphonies he was able to discuss in great detail. Lord Judge's wife and soulmate, Lady Judith, was never far from his thoughts, and he referred to her wit and wisdom continually.  

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to his friends and family. 

The details of this obituary have been taken from the King's website.