Brian Leveson

Early life

Leveson was born in Liverpool, on 22 June 1949. He was educated at Liverpool College, a then public school in Mossley Hill, Liverpool. He studied at Merton College, Oxford and was President of the Oxford Law Society.

Legal career

Leveson was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1970. He initially practised in Liverpool and became Queen's Counsel in 1986. Leveson became a bencher in 1995, acted as a Recorder between 1988 and 2000, and as a Deputy High Court Judge between 1998 and 2000. In 2000, Leveson was appointed as a Judge of the High Court, Queen's Bench Division, and served as a Presiding Judge of the Northern Circuit between 2002 and 2005.

In 2006, Leveson was appointed to the new position of Deputy Senior Presiding Judge and, on 2 October 2006, he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal. He was promoted to Senior Presiding Judge with effect from 1 January 2007.

On 1 October 2013, Leveson was appointed President of the Queen's Bench Division, succeeding Sir John Thomas.

He was Treasurer of Middle Temple for the year 2020.

Notable cases

R vs West (Rosemary Pauline)

Leveson was the lead prosecution counsel during the trial of Rosemary West (Regina vs West), who went on to be convicted for the murders of ten young women, including her own eldest daughter, in November 1995. West was sentenced to Life in Prison with a whole life order imposed.

Lord Justice of Appeal

In November 2007, the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal, constituted by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Leveson and Mr Justice Simon, quashed the conviction of Barry George and ordered a retrial in relation to the murder in 2001 of BBC presenter Jill Dando.{{cite BAILII

He was one of three judges who heard an appeal in 2013 by several men who had admitted terrorist offences. One of them, Usman Khan, whose sentence was as a result changed from an "indeterminate sentence" to a "determinate term" of 16 years imprisonment, later committed the 2019 London Bridge stabbing.{{cite BAILII

Prosecution of comedian Ken Dodd for Tax Evasion

In 1989 Leveson was the lead prosecution counsel at the trial of comedian Ken Dodd. Dodd was charged with tax evasion, but was subsequently acquitted at Liverpool Crown Court, despite seemingly strong evidence.

Other notable cases

While sitting with Lord Justice Mantell In the Court of Appeal in 2002 under the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, he upheld the murder conviction of James Hanratty. He also presided over the trial of ex-US Marine Toby Studebaker for charges relating to child grooming over the internet. He sentenced 100-year-old Bernard Heginbotham, who was found guilty of manslaughter of his wife of 67 years, 87-year-old Ida, to a 12-month rehabilitation order. He also presided over the trial of two men who were found guilty in 2005 of murdering Anthony Walker with an axe. He was one of the judges in the appeal of Ruth Ellis in 2003 who said that the appeal was without merit.

Press ethics inquiry and ''News International'' phone hacking scandal

Main article: Leveson Inquiry

It was announced on 13 July 2011 that Leveson would lead the public inquiry into issues of British press culture, practices and ethics raised by the News International phone hacking scandal. On 20 July, Prime Minister David Cameron announced that the scope of the inquiry had widened to include the BBC and social media.

The hearings began on Monday 14 November 2011. The full report was published on 29 November 2012 and is available online.

Later career

In 2013 Leveson was appointed as Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, taking over from Brian May, who stepped down at the end of his term.

In 2019, Leveson was appointed as the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, and re-appointed for a further three-year term in October 2022.

Personal life

Leveson and his wife Lynne (daughter of Aubrey Fishel, also from Liverpool) are Jewish. The couple have three children.

Honours

In 1986, Leveson took silk and was appointed Queens Counsel granting him the Suffix of 'QC', upon appointment as a Judge the suffix was no longer used.

Leveson was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 2001, by Queen Elizabeth II granting him the title of 'Sir'. In 2006 Leveson was sworn as a Privy Counsellor which grants him the Style 'The Right Honourable' for life.

References

References

1. Leveson, Brian. "Opening remarks". Leveson Inquiry.
2. (12 July 2011). "Phone hacking: Prime minister reveals inquiry powers". BBC News.
3. Binham, Caroline. (13 July 2011). "Leveson seen as 'steady pair of hands'". Financial Times.
4. "The Rt Hon Lord Justice Leveson". Debretts.
5. "Preview Family Record – Leveson". Burkes Peerage.
6. Greenslade, Roy. (26 November 2015). "Brian Leveson on Rebekah Brooks: tell me about it...". The Guardian.
7. [http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/media/press-release-160310a.htm Lord Justice Leveson appointed as Chairman of the Sentencing Council] {{webarchive. link. (15 July 2011 Sentencing Council, 16 March 2010)
8. (17 April 1986). "State Intelligence".
9. {{London Gazette. (5 October 2006)
10. (26 September 2013). "Appointment of the President of the Queen's Bench Division". [[10 Downing Street]].
11. [http://www.middletemple.org.uk/about-us/governance/officers-of-the-inn "Officers of the Inn,"] Middle Temple website, retrieved 29 January 2020.
12. "R v West (Rosemary Pauline)".
13. Bennett, Will. (4 October 1995). "Media frenzy as Rosemary West faces murder jury". The Independent.
14. (7 October 1995). "The horrific secrets of 25 Cromwell Street". [[The Independent]].
15. (20 June 1989). "Comic 'cheated Inland Revenue for years' Ken Dodd trial told of letters from Prime Ministers".
16. (12 March 2018). "Sir Ken Dodd, comedian – obituary". The Telegraph.
17. (11 May 2010). "Sir Charles Mantell". The Telegraph.
18. {{cite BAILII. (2002). (10 May 2002)
19. (2 April 2004). "US marine jailed for abducting internet girl". The Times.
20. (8 July 2004). "Wife killer, 100, spared prison". BBC News.
21. {{cite BAILII. (2003). (8 December 2003)
22. Wintour, Patrick. (20 July 2011). "David Cameron widens inquiry on media regulation to include the BBC". The Guardian.
23. (20 July 2011). "Phone hacking: Cameron widens remit of Leveson probe". BBC News.
24. "Background". The Leveson Inquiry.
25. (29 November 2012). "Leveson report: New body to curb press 'havoc'". BBC News.
26. "Leveson Inquiry: Culture, Practices and Ethics of The Press". [[The National Archives (United Kingdom).
27. "Office of the Vice-Chancellor". Liverpool John Moores University.
28. Hornby, Mike. (14 March 2013). "Leveson named chancellor of Liverpool John Moores". The Independent.
29. (24 October 2022). "Latest civil service & public affairs moves – October 24".
30. (13 July 2011). "Lord Justice Leveson to lead phonehacking inquiry". The Jewish Chronicle.
31. Weston, Alan. (14 July 2011). "Liverpool-born judge Lord Justice Brian Leveson to lead inquiry into phone hacking scandal". Liverpool Echo.
32. (6 March 2001). "The London Gazette".
33. "Orders for 14 November 2006". Privy Council Office.