Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:13

From: Michael Furmston

Subject: Obligations Facebook groups

It is now standard practice in England where there are two judges serving simultaneously with the same surname for the junior one to add a christian name. This goes back at least to the Davies family in the 1950's Edmund Davies liked the practice so much that he took the title Lord Edmund Davies I am not sure what is the first example of this.

Robert Goff told me that on at least one occasion when they were both at the Bar he was consulted on an abstruse Chancery question.

When the solicitor arrived for the conference he realised that he was in the wrong place (7 King's Bench Walk is not in Lincoln's Inn) but it was of course essential to conceal this from the lay client who was also at the conference.

Michael

P.S. Gerard - you have been extensively quoted on an interpretation case in the Singapore Court of Appeal.

Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:45:11 +0100
Subject: Re: Obligations Facebook groups

In the (English) official law reports Lord Goff always appears as Robert Goff J or LJ, which was his correct judicial title.

The Chancery judge was (Reginald) Goff (L)J. No need for the forename as he was (initially at least) more senior.

I have heard many judges (at least on the QBD side) observe: "it's the wrong Goff (L)J" when the Chancery judge is cited.

<<<< Previous Message  ~  Index  ~  Next Message >>>>>