| The Right Honourable The Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore PC |
|
|---|---|
| Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2009 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 29 June 2009 – 30 September 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Lord Carswell |
| Succeeded by | Position eliminated |
| Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 2004–2009 |
|
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Lord Carswell |
| Succeeded by | Sir Declan Morgan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 February 1948 |
| Spouse(s) | Gillian |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Brian Francis Kerr, Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore, PC, is a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.
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Brian Kerr was born on 22 February 1948 to James William Kerr and Kathleen Rose, née Murray, of Lurgan, County Armagh.[1] He was educated at St Colman's College, Newry and read law at Queen's University Belfast. He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1970, and to the Bar of England and Wales at Gray's Inn in 1974.[2] He took silk in 1983 and became a member of the King's Inns in 1990, and an Honorary Bencher of Gray's Inn in 1997 and the King's Inns in 2004. He served as Junior Crown Counsel (Common Law) from 1978 to 1983 and Senior Crown Counsel from 1988 to 1993.[1]
In 1993, Brian Kerr was appointed a Judge of the High Court and knighted, and in 2004 was appointed Lord Chief Justice[1][2] and sworn of the Privy Council.[3] As is tradition for the Lord Chief Justice,[4] he succeeded Lord Carswell as the Northern Irish Lord of Appeal in Ordinary upon the latter's retirement.[2] On 29 June 2009, he was created Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore, of Tonaghmore in the County of Down, and was introduced to the House of Lords the same day. He was the last person to be appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary, and on 1 October 2009 he became one of the inaugural Justices of the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He is also the youngest member, at age 63.[5] He was succeeded as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland on 3 July 2009 by Sir Declan Morgan.[6]
He is married to Gillian, Lady Kerr (née Widdowson) and has two sons. He was brought up as a Roman Catholic but his religious affiliation is private.[7]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Robert Carswell |
Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland 2004–2009 |
Succeeded by Sir Declan Morgan |
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