Lord Birkett: Brilliant Figure At Bar

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29746, 13 February 1962, Page 13

Lord Birkett: Brilliant Figure At Bar

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, February 11. Lord Birkett, who as a barrister was one of this century’s most brilliant advocates, died suddenly in London yesterday. He was 78.

Internationally, he probably is best known as one of the judges at the Nuremburg war trials, but he was also famous for his appearance—as prosecutor and defence—in murder trials and in many inquiries As late as Thursday be made a brilliant attack in the House of Lords on the Manchester Corporation's plan to take water from beautiful Ullswater and had the satisfaction of seeing the scheme thrown out Offered Judgeship He was offered a judgeship many times before he finally accepted a post on the King’s Bench in 1941 In 1950 he became a Lord Justice of Appeal He was created a baron tn 1958 Lord Birkett was on record as saying that he never knowingly defended a guilty person.

As a barrister he defended many under the Poor Per-

sons* Act, but he could also command the highest fees He was stated on one occasion to have received 500 guineas for a case which was disposed of within a few hours In the 1930's he was said to earn £30.000 a year At Lord Birkett’s own request there will be no funeral service He once described himself as a “Christian agnostic” Lord Kilmuir'a Tribute Lord Birkett was undoubtedly one of the greatest advocates of the twentieth century, the Lord Chancellor (Lord Kilmuir) said in a tribute tonight. “His voice, choice of word* and moral earnestness had a persuasive power on juries which has rarely been equalled." he said

“A man with a deep and compassionate understanding of the ordinary men and women of the world in which he moved, he made a lasting contribution to the varied fields of activity to which he

devoted himself without stint —literature, the arts, and the universities ”