Stephen Brown (judge)

The Right Honourable Sir Stephen Brown GBE
President of the Family Division
In office 1988–1999
Preceded by	Sir John Arnold
Succeeded by	Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss
Personal details
Born	(1924-10-03) October 3, 1924
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Patricia Ann (m.1951-present)
Children	5 (2 sons, 3 daughters)
Parents	Wilfrid Brown Nora Elizabeth Brown
Residence	Harborne, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Alma mater	Queens’ College, Cambridge
Occupation	Judge
Profession	Judge
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1943 to 1946
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

Sir Stephen Brown GBE (born (1924-10-03)October 3, 1924) is a British judge. He was a Lord Justice of Appeal and the President of the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales.

Early life and education

Born on October 3, 1924, he is the son of Wilfrid Brown and Nora Elizabeth Brown of Longdon Green, Staffordshire.

Brown was educated at Malvern College^[1][2] and Queens’ College, Cambridge.^[3]

Career

From 1943 to 1946 Brown served in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as a Lieutenant.

Brown became a barrister at the Inner Temple in 1949, became a bencher^[4] in 1974, and became Treasurer^[4] in 1994. He was Deputy Chairman of Staffordshire Quarter Sessions^[4] from 1963 to 1971, and Recorder^[4] of West Bromwich from 1965 to 1971. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1966. He was a Recorder, and Honorary Recorder of West Bromwich from 1972 1975, was a High Court judge, in the Family Division,^[4] from 1975 to 1977, and in the Queen's Bench Division from 1977 to 1983, and was Presiding Judge of the Midland and Oxford Circuit^[4] from 1977 to 1981.

Brown became a Privy Counsellor in 1983^[5] and was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal (1983–88)^[6] and, finally, President of the Family Division (1988–99) of the High Court of England and Wales. On 19 November 1992, he delivered the landmark ruling that doctors treating Tony Bland, who had been in a Persistent vegetative state since suffering serious brain damage in the Hillsborough disaster more than three years earlier, could withdraw food and treatment keeping him alive. Treatment was ultimately withdrawn on 22 February 1993, after the House of Lords rejected an appeal by the Official Solicitor, and Mr Bland died on 3 March 1993.^[7]

He was a member of the Parole Board of England and Wales from 1967 to 71, of the Butler Committee on mentally abnormal offenders^[4] from 1972 to 1975, and of the Advisory Council on Penal System in 1977. He was Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors^[6] from 1971 to 1975. He was Chairman of the Council of Malvern College from 1976 to 1994.^[4]

As of January 10, 2009, he is also a member of the Advisory Committee of Children’s Rights International.^[2]

He has served as President of several organisations : Edgbaston High School, 1989–;^[4] Malvernian Society, 1998–.^[4]

Honours & Decorations

Brown was knighted in 1975. He was also received an honorary fellowship and several honorary degrees: Honorary Fellow, Queen's College, Cambridge, 1984 ; Honorary LLD :University of Birmingham, 1985 ; University of Leicester, 1997 ; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honorary F.R.C.Psychology, 2000 ; University of the West of England 2000.^[6]

Brown was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1999.

Personal life

In 1951, Brown married Patricia Ann, daughter of Richard Good from Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. They had twin sons and three daughters. They live in Harborne, Birmingham.

References

External links

• Who's Who 2009