Peter Jackson (judge)

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Lord Justice Peter Jackson
Jackson in 2013
Lord Justice of Appeal
Assumed office
2017
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
High Court Judge
Family Division
In office
2010–2017
Personal details
Born (1955-12-09) 9 December 1955 (age 68)
United Kingdom
Alma materBrasenose College, Oxford

Sir Peter Arthur Brian Jackson, PC (born 9 December 1955), styled The Rt Hon Lord Justice Peter Jackson, is an English Appeal Court judge.[1] Previously he was a High Court Judge assigned to the Family Division.[2]

Career[edit]

Jackson was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1978 and became a Queen's Counsel in 2000. He was subsequently appointed as a Recorder in 1998, a Deputy High Court Judge in 2003 and a High Court Judge with effect from 1 October 2010.[3][4][5] Referring to his work as a barrister (not as a judge), Chambers & Partners described Jackson as a "master tactician [who] stalks his prey in a very subtle, understated manner... He plays to win and does so more often than not," while Legal 500 called him "one of the most authoritative children silks around."[3][6]

Court of Protection[edit]

In February 2011, Jackson made a landmark ruling allowing journalists to attend hearings in the Court of Protection in a case about an autistic man who had been kept away from his home and family by a local authority, the London Borough of Hillingdon.[7][8] He agreed to allow the news media to identify all parties in the case.[9] Previously, the court had been widely criticised in the media for being able to make crucial rulings without public scrutiny.[7][10][11]

Poppi Worthington case[edit]

In January 2016, Peter Jackson LJ issued a ruling which appeared at variance with the findings of police investigation which had resulted in no prosecution. Although there had been no prosecution the Judge found that the father had on the balance of probabilities abused the baby before her death.[12][13] He criticised the Police and Social Services.[14]

Judgment in plain English[edit]

In September 2016 Jackson was praised for rephrasing the entire judgement in the case of Lancashire County Council v M and Others into a 17-page document using simple phrases and emojis with the intention that the children involved would be able to read and comprehend it themselves. The ruling is thought to be the first in English legal history to incorporate an emoji, or web symbol, or to explain a point of evidence.[15][16]

Cryonically frozen girl[edit]

In October 2016 Lord Justice Peter Jackson ruled on the case of a 14-year-old girl (referred to in the judgment as JS) dying of cancer. The judgment was technically that the mother should be allowed to decide about disposal of her body on death. Jackson visited the girl in hospital, at her request, shortly before her death.[17]

Parental access to Haredi Jewish children[edit]

Jackson ruled 'with real regret' that the Court could not order parental access for a transgender parent of Haredi Jewish children.[18]

Judgment in form of letter to a child[edit]

In July 2017, Jackson delivered a judgment in a case about the residence and citizenship of a teenage boy. He presented it in the form of a letter written directly to the boy, explaining how and why he had reached his decision in the case. [19][20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Biographies of the 7 newly appointed Court of Appeal Judges 2018".
  2. ^ Senior judiciary.(14 February 2011). Judiciary of England and Wales: List of members of the judiciary. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b Peter Jackson QC. 4 Paper Buildings. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  4. ^ High Court Judge Appointment: Peter Jackson Archived 18 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine. (17 September 2010). Judiciary of England and Wales: Ministry of Justice News Release. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  5. ^ Knighthood for Peter Jackson QC. (19 November 2010). Number10.gov.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  6. ^ 4 Paper Buildings. Chambers & Partners. Family: Matrimonial Finance: London. Retrieved 1 March 2011
  7. ^ a b Hough, Andrew. Secretive Court of Protection in legal reporting first over man's battle with council. (1 March 2011). The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  8. ^ Gunter, Joel. Judge grants media access to autistic man's custody case. (1 March 2011). Journalism.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  9. ^ McSmith, Andy. A father and son reunited. A secret court forced to open its doors. (1 March 2011). The Independent. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  10. ^ Meikle, James. Court allows journalists into care hearing. (28 February 2011)The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  11. ^ Beckford, Martin. Behind the closed doors of England's most secretive court. (5 February 2011). The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  12. ^ "Poppi Worthington: Father abused baby before her death, judge rules". BBC News. 19 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Poppi Worthington – the Judge publishes his decision about what happened to her". 19 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Poppi Worthington death: Judge criticises police and council". BBC News. 25 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Smile: High Court judge uses emoji in official ruling". The Daily Telegraph. 14 September 2016.
  16. ^ "Plain English judgment gets the thumbs up and a :-)". 15 September 2016.
  17. ^ Cancer girl, 14, is cryogenically frozen..., The Daily Telegraph. 18 November 2016.
  18. ^ "Transgender woman denied contact with her ultra-Orthodox Jewish children". TheGuardian.com. 30 January 2017.
  19. ^ "A (Letter to a Young Person), Re (Rev 1) [2017] EWFC 48 (26 July 2017)". Bailii.org. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  20. ^ "'Dear Sam': Judge writes to 14-year-old to explain custody ruling". lawgazette.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2023.