Masters of the Bench

Retired at 70 in 2015 as senior judge at the Central Criminal Court and Recorder of London.

Previously the Common Serjeant of London, appointed to the Old Bailey in 2000. Married to Dame Anne Rafferty DBE PC KC with three adult daughters

After a postgraduate degree at the University of Kansas called by Gray’s Inn 1969 and subsequently practiced from William Howard’s Chambers 3 Kings Bench Walk, becoming  Hollis Whiteman Chambers  Queen Elizabeth Building.

Silk in 1990 and cases included representing the Crown Prosecution Service in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.  Bencher of Gray’s.  Chairman Criminal Bar Association 1998-2000

Subsequently appointed as an Assistance Surveillance Commissioner; was for six years the Independent Reviewer for National Security in Northern Ireland and served two three-year terms as the Chairman of the British Horseracing Authority Judicial Panel.  Also conducted the first Deepcut Inquest and various inquiries in both this country and abroad.