James Booth (judge)

His Honour James Booth (3 May 1914 – 31 August 2000), was a British Judge and a Liberal Party politician.

Background

Booth was a son of James and Agnes Booth.^[1] He was educated at Bolton School, Bolton, Lancashire and Manchester University, where he received a Bachelor of Law with Honours.^[2] In 1954 he married Joyce Doreen Mather. They had two sons.^[3]

Professional career

Booth qualified as a Barrister and in 1936 received a Call to the bar by Gray’s Inn, making him Britain's youngest barrister.^[4] In 1939 he became Town Clerk of Ossett, West Yorkshire, serving until 1941.^[5]

World War Two

In 1941 Booth joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a Flight lieutenant.^[6] He served in Northern Ireland and Iceland.^[7]

Political career

Booth was Liberal candidate for the West Leeds division of West Yorkshire at the 1945 General Election. This was an unpromising seat that a Liberal had not fought since 1929. He finished third but managed to save his deposit;

Five years later he was Liberal candidate for the Darwen division of Lancashire at the 1950 General Election.^[9] In a difficult election for the Liberal Party he saw the Liberal vote fall from 1945, however unlike many of his colleagues elsewhere, he again managed to save his deposit;

He did not stand for parliament again.^[11]

Professional career

Booth returned to law and practised in Manchester. In 1967 he became Recorder of Barrow-in-Furness. In 1969 he became a Circuit Judge (formerly a County Court Judge). In 1984 he retired at the age of 70.^[12]

References