Robert Carswell, Baron Carswell

Robert Douglas Carswell, Baron Carswell, PC (born 28 June 1934), is a retired Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.

The Right Honourable The Lord Carswell PC
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
In office 12 January 2004 – 28 June 2009
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Brian Hutton
Succeeded by	Sir Brian Kerr
Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
In office 1997–2004
Preceded by	Sir Brian Hutton
Succeeded by	Sir Brian Kerr
Lord Justice of Appeal Supreme Court of Judicature Northern Ireland
In office 1992–1997
High Court of Justice Northern Ireland
In office 1984–1992
Senior Crown Counsel Northern Ireland
In office 1979–1984
Attorney General for Northern Ireland
In office 1969–1971
Personal details
Born	Robert Douglas Carswell (1934-06-28) 28 June 1934
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Romayne Ferris (m. 1961)
Children	Catherine Patricia
Alma mater	Pembroke College, Oxford University of Chicago Law School
Occupation	Judge
Profession	Barrister

Early life

The son of Alan and Nance Carswell was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in classics and law in 1956. Two years later he graduated from the University of Chicago's Law School with a Doctor of Jurisprudence.

Legal career

Carswell was Counsel to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland in the years 1969 and 1971, and Senior Crown Counsel in Northern Ireland from 1979 to 1984. In 1984, he became Judge of the High Court of Justice Northern Ireland, a post he held until 1992. He was Lord Justice of Appeal at the Supreme Court of Judicature in Northern Ireland from 1992 to 1997 and further Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2004. Lord Carswell was made a Queen's Counsel in 1971.

Carswell became a Privy Counsellor in 1993. He was appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary [1] as Baron Carswell, of Killeen in the County of Down on 12 January 2004,[2][3] having been knighted in 1988. He sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher until his retirement from the membership of the House on 29 October 2019.[4]

During 2009–2010, Lord Carswell chaired an inquiry into the roles of Jersey's Crown Officers (the Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, Attorney General and Solicitor General), presenting a report recommending reforms to the States of Jersey on 6 December 2010.

Family

Lord Carswell married Romayne Winifred Ferris in 1961; they have two daughters.

Lady Carswell was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Belfast in 2000.

See also

• List of Northern Ireland Members of the House of Lords
• List of Northern Ireland members of the Privy Council

References

1. "Announcement at number10.gov.uk". Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 6 November 2006.
2. House of Lords (13 January 2004). "Announcement of his introduction at the House of Lords". minutes of proceedings. Retrieved 6 November 2006.
3. "No. 57179". The London Gazette. 15 January 2004. p. 503.
4. "Lord Carswell". UK Parliament. Retrieved 29 October 2019.

• "DodOnline". Archived from the original on 3 October 2006. Retrieved 6 November 2006.

External links

• "UK Parliament Publications". Retrieved 6 November 2006.
• "BBC Northern Ireland". BBC News. 11 December 2003. Retrieved 6 November 2006.
• "DCA" (PDF). Retrieved 6 November 2006.
• "Stationery Office – UK Parliament". Retrieved 6 November 2006.

Legal offices
Preceded by Brian Hutton	Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland 1997–2004	Succeeded by Brian Kerr