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{{Short description|British judge and Lord Chief Justice (1900–1972)}}
⚫ '''Hubert Lister Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington''' ] (], ] – ], ]) was a ] ] who served as ] from ] to ]. His term was marked by much less controversy than under his predecessor, ].
{{For|his father, the law lord|Robert Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = ]
| name = The Lord Parker of Waddington
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC}}
| image = The Lord Parker of Waddington.jpg
| alt =
| caption = 1968 photograph, by ]
| office = ]
| term_start = 30 September 1958
| term_end = 19 April 1971
| nominator = ]
| appointer = ]
| predecessor = ]
| successor = ]
| office2 = ]
| term_start2 = 1954
| term_end2 = 1958
| appointer2 = Queen Elizabeth II
| office3 = Judge of the ]
| term_start3 = 1950
| term_end3 = 19 April 1971
| appointer3 = Queen Elizabeth II
| birth_name = Hubert Lister Parker
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1900|5|28|df=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1972|9|15|1900|5|28|df=y}}
| nationality = British
| parents = ]
| education = ]
| alma_mater = ]
| awards = ]<br />]
}}

⚫ '''Hubert Lister Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC}} (28 May 1900 – 15 September 1972) was a British ] who served as ] from 1958 to 1971. His term was marked by much less controversy than that of his predecessor, ].

The son of a law lord, Parker was educated at ] and ]. Having initially intended to go into business, he was instead called to the English bar in 1922, and specialised in commercial cases. In 1945, he was appointed ] and, after refusing promotion once, was appointed to the ] in 1950, sitting in the ]. He was promoted to the ] in 1954. In 1957, he presided over the ].


==Family and early life== ==Family and early life==
Parker was the youngest son of a previous Robert John Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington, who had been a ]. He went to ] (which he enjoyed; in later years he was Chairman of the Governors) and ]. He graduated with a double first in Natural Sciences, specialising in ] and intending to go into the oil business. This intention he abandoned on graduating in ] to read for the ] (]) where he was ] in ], entering the chambers of ]. Parker was the son of ], who had been a ]. He went to ] (which he enjoyed; in later years he was Chairman of the Governors) and ]. He graduated with a double first in Natural Sciences, specialising in ] and intending to go into the oil business. This intention he abandoned on graduating in 1922 to read for the ] (]) where he was ] in 1924, entering the chambers of ].<ref name="Oxford DNB">D. A. S. Cairns, 'Parker, Hubert Lister, Baron Parker of Waddington (1900–1972)', rev. Robert Stevens, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2006, accessed 15 Feb 2010.</ref>


==Bar career== ==Legal career==
At the bar Parker specialised in commercial cases and developed a courtroom style that tried to be fair to all the arguments and make a case with calmness. In ] he became a Junior Treasury Counsel (nicknamed the "Treasury devil"), an appointment which normally led on to promotion to the Judicial bench; however, when the invitation from ] in ] Parker thought it was too soon and that he had only just become useful to the Treasury Counsel, and therefore declined. He accepted the second invitation when it came in ]. Oddly he had never 'taken silk' to become a ]. At the Bar, Parker specialised in commercial cases and developed a courtroom style that tried to be fair to all the arguments and make a case with calmness. In 1945, he became the ] (also referred to as the "Treasury devil"), an appointment which normally led on to promotion to the High Court bench; however, when the invitation came from ] in 1948, Parker thought it was too soon and that he had only just become useful to the Treasury Counsel, and therefore declined. He accepted the second invitation when it came in 1950. As he went straight from being Treasury Devil to the High Court, he never 'took silk' (that is to say, he was not a ]): the Treasury Devil was never a 'silk'.<ref name="Times obituary">"Lord Parker of Waddington" (obituary), ''The Times'', 16 September 1972, p. 14.</ref>


==Judicial career== ===Judicial career===
As a Judge, Parker found himself presiding over trials in areas of the law he was unfamilliar with. He claimed that the first summing up which he gave in a criminal trial was the first he had ever heard. However, by getting down to the work, he eventually mastered the job and by ] was promoted to the Court of Appeal. The more measured style of the appellate courts suited Parker more than the cut and thrust of the King's Bench, and his ability to get to the important details of a case was assessed as good by those who appeared before him. He proved that he had reasonable political judgment in ] when heading a tribunal over a minor political scandal connected with the setting of interest rates. As a judge, Parker found himself presiding over trials in areas of the law he was unfamiliar with. He claimed that the first summing up which he gave in a criminal trial was the first he had ever heard. However, by getting down to the work, he eventually mastered the job and by 1954 was promoted to the Court of Appeal. The more measured style of the appellate courts suited Parker more than the cut and thrust of the ], and his ability to get to the important details of a case was assessed as good by those who appeared before him. He proved that he had reasonable political judgment in 1957 when heading a ] over a minor political scandal connected with the setting of interest rates.<ref name="Oxford DNB" />


⚫ ====As Lord Chief Justice====
==Appointment process==
Lord Goddard announced his resignation as Lord Chief Justice in 1958. He had been an exception to the tradition that the ] be appointed to the role and some commentators expected that the next appointment would therefore be ], Attorney-General at the time. However Manningham-Buller was widely disliked and also shared Goddard's reactionary views on criminal justice. ] considered ], the ], but Kilmuir rejected the job. Macmillan therefore decided to appoint a senior Judge, and Parker's name emerged as the one candidate with whom most people were happy. Parker decided to take the same title as his father. Lord Goddard announced his resignation as Lord Chief Justice in 1958. He had been an exception to the tradition that the ] be appointed to the role and some commentators expected that the next appointment would therefore be ], Attorney-General at the time. However Manningham-Buller was widely disliked and also shared Goddard's reactionary views on criminal justice. ] considered ], the ], but Kilmuir rejected the job. Macmillan therefore decided to appoint a senior judge, and Parker's name emerged as the one candidate with whom most people were happy.<ref name="Oxford DNB" /> On 30 September 1958, Parker took the title '''Baron Parker of Waddington''', of ] in the Borough of ].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=41511 |date=30 September 1958 |page=5973}}</ref><ref name="Times obituary" />


⚫ Parker's style was totally different from Goddard as he confined himself to the higher courts and did not intervene in everyday criminal trials. He had little interest in the social life of the judiciary. He was called upon where a trial had a serious political aspect, and was criticised when he imprisoned journalists who refused to reveal their ] during the ] of 1963. Parker's judgment stated in part "the citizen's highest duty is to the State". Parker also made history when he sentenced ], convicted of spying, to 42 years imprisonment, the longest sentence then passed in an English court; the conjunction seemed to some to suggest that Parker was too close to the government of the day, though others said Parker had been shocked at the extent of the treachery that had sent dozens of Western agents to their deaths.<ref name="Times obituary" /> Parker had himself said that the Courts "have a positive responsibility to be the handmaiden of administration rather than its governor".<ref name="Handmaiden">"Officials And The Rule Of Law", ''The Times'', 29 June 1960, p. 8.</ref>
⚫ ==As Lord Chief Justice==
⚫ Parker's style was totally different from Goddard as he confined himself to the higher courts and did not intervene in everyday criminal trials. He had little interest in the social life of the judiciary. He was called upon where a trial had a serious political aspect, and was criticised when he imprisoned journalists who refused to reveal their ] during the ] of ]. Parker's judgment stated in part "the citizen's highest duty is to the State". Parker also made history when he sentenced ], convicted of spying, to 42 years imprisonment, the longest sentence then passed in an English court; the conjunction seemed to many to suggest that Parker was too close to the government of the day. Parker had himself said that the Courts "have a positive responsibility to be the handmaiden of administration rather than its governor".


However, Parker was popular among the profession as he secured improvements in Judicial salaries and pensions. Parker was a mild reformer who supported ] and tried to modernise some judicial procedures which he thought were antiquated, such as the assize court system. Like Goddard, Parker took an active part in ] debates. The most important speech he made was on the War Damage Bill of ] which retrospectively overturned a Court of Appeal judgment and stripped the plaintiff of a damages award; Parker regarded this as an abhorrent idea in principle, but his view did not carry the day. He supported moves to abolish ]. However, Parker was popular among the profession as he secured improvements in judicial salaries and pensions. Parker was a mild reformer who supported ] and tried to modernise some judicial procedures which he thought were antiquated, such as the assize court system. Like Goddard, Parker took an active part in ] debates. The most important speech he made was in debates during the passage of the War Damage Act 1965 which has the effect of retrospectively overturning the judicial decision of the House of Lords in ] thereby depriving the plaintiff of an award of damages. Parker regarded this as an abhorrent idea in principle, but his view did not carry the day. He supported moves to abolish ].<ref name="Oxford DNB" />


In ] Parker instituted the first 'Sentencing conference' to try to get consistency. In the late 1960s he introduced the first formal training for Judges, and welcomed the formation of the ]. When ] headed a committee looking at court reform in ], Parker's memorandum was more radical than the committee's recommendations. In 1964 Parker instituted the first 'Sentencing conference' to try to get consistency. In the late 1960s he introduced the first formal training for Judges, and welcomed the formation of the ]. When ] headed a committee looking at court reform in 1971, Parker's memorandum was more radical than the committee's recommendations.<ref name="Oxford DNB" />


==Death== ==Death==
Parker announced his retirement before the committee reported, and died the next year at the ] farm he ran together with his wife of 48 years. Parker announced his retirement before the committee reported, and died the next year at the ] farm he ran together with his wife of 48 years.<ref name="Oxford DNB" />

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = ]]
|escutcheon = Vert a Chevron between three Stags' Heads cabossed Or
|crest = A Stag trippant proper gorged with a Collar Vert
|motto = Nec fluctu nec flatu movetur <ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/parkerwadd1913.htm#PARKERWADD_1913_1 | title=Parker of Waddington, Baron (Law Lord) (UK, 1913 - 1918) }}</ref> }}

==References==
{{reflist}}

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⚫ {{s-end}}


{{start box}} {{Authority control}}
⚫ {{succession box | before=] | title=] | years=] - ] | after=] }}
⚫ {{end box}}


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Latest revision as of 15:48, 19 January 2024

British judge and Lord Chief Justice (1900–1972) For his father, the law lord, see Robert Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington.

The Right HonourableThe Lord Parker of WaddingtonPC
1968 photograph, by Godfrey Argent
Lord Chief Justice of England
In office
30 September 1958 – 19 April 1971
Nominated byHarold Macmillan
Appointed byElizabeth II
Preceded byThe Lord Goddard
Succeeded byThe Lord Widgery
Lord Justice of Appeal
In office
1954–1958
Appointed byQueen Elizabeth II
Judge of the High Court of Justice
In office
1950 – 19 April 1971
Appointed byQueen Elizabeth II
Personal details
BornHubert Lister Parker
(1900-05-28)28 May 1900
Died15 September 1972(1972-09-15) (aged 72)
NationalityBritish
ParentRobert Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington
EducationRugby School
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge
AwardsKnight Bachelor
Life peer

Hubert Lister Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington, PC (28 May 1900 – 15 September 1972) was a British judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1958 to 1971. His term was marked by much less controversy than that of his predecessor, Lord Goddard.

The son of a law lord, Parker was educated at Rugby School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Having initially intended to go into business, he was instead called to the English bar in 1922, and specialised in commercial cases. In 1945, he was appointed Treasury devil and, after refusing promotion once, was appointed to the High Court in 1950, sitting in the King's Bench Division. He was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 1954. In 1957, he presided over the bank rate tribunal of inquiry.

Family and early life

Parker was the son of Robert Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington, who had been a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He went to Rugby School (which he enjoyed; in later years he was Chairman of the Governors) and Trinity College, Cambridge. He graduated with a double first in Natural Sciences, specialising in geology and intending to go into the oil business. This intention he abandoned on graduating in 1922 to read for the Bar (Lincoln's Inn) where he was called in 1924, entering the chambers of Donald Somervell.

Legal career

At the Bar, Parker specialised in commercial cases and developed a courtroom style that tried to be fair to all the arguments and make a case with calmness. In 1945, he became the Junior Counsel to the Treasury (Common Law) (also referred to as the "Treasury devil"), an appointment which normally led on to promotion to the High Court bench; however, when the invitation came from Lord Jowitt in 1948, Parker thought it was too soon and that he had only just become useful to the Treasury Counsel, and therefore declined. He accepted the second invitation when it came in 1950. As he went straight from being Treasury Devil to the High Court, he never 'took silk' (that is to say, he was not a King's Counsel): the Treasury Devil was never a 'silk'.

Judicial career

As a judge, Parker found himself presiding over trials in areas of the law he was unfamiliar with. He claimed that the first summing up which he gave in a criminal trial was the first he had ever heard. However, by getting down to the work, he eventually mastered the job and by 1954 was promoted to the Court of Appeal. The more measured style of the appellate courts suited Parker more than the cut and thrust of the King's Bench, and his ability to get to the important details of a case was assessed as good by those who appeared before him. He proved that he had reasonable political judgment in 1957 when heading a tribunal over a minor political scandal connected with the setting of interest rates.

As Lord Chief Justice

Lord Goddard announced his resignation as Lord Chief Justice in 1958. He had been an exception to the tradition that the Attorney General be appointed to the role and some commentators expected that the next appointment would therefore be Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller, Attorney-General at the time. However Manningham-Buller was widely disliked and also shared Goddard's reactionary views on criminal justice. Harold Macmillan considered Viscount Kilmuir, the Lord Chancellor, but Kilmuir rejected the job. Macmillan therefore decided to appoint a senior judge, and Parker's name emerged as the one candidate with whom most people were happy. On 30 September 1958, Parker took the title Baron Parker of Waddington, of Lincoln's Inn in the Borough of Holborn.

Parker's style was totally different from Goddard as he confined himself to the higher courts and did not intervene in everyday criminal trials. He had little interest in the social life of the judiciary. He was called upon where a trial had a serious political aspect, and was criticised when he imprisoned journalists who refused to reveal their sources during the Vassall tribunal of 1963. Parker's judgment stated in part "the citizen's highest duty is to the State". Parker also made history when he sentenced George Blake, convicted of spying, to 42 years imprisonment, the longest sentence then passed in an English court; the conjunction seemed to some to suggest that Parker was too close to the government of the day, though others said Parker had been shocked at the extent of the treachery that had sent dozens of Western agents to their deaths. Parker had himself said that the Courts "have a positive responsibility to be the handmaiden of administration rather than its governor".

However, Parker was popular among the profession as he secured improvements in judicial salaries and pensions. Parker was a mild reformer who supported legal aid and tried to modernise some judicial procedures which he thought were antiquated, such as the assize court system. Like Goddard, Parker took an active part in House of Lords debates. The most important speech he made was in debates during the passage of the War Damage Act 1965 which has the effect of retrospectively overturning the judicial decision of the House of Lords in Burmah Oil Co. v Lord Advocate thereby depriving the plaintiff of an award of damages. Parker regarded this as an abhorrent idea in principle, but his view did not carry the day. He supported moves to abolish the death penalty.

In 1964 Parker instituted the first 'Sentencing conference' to try to get consistency. In the late 1960s he introduced the first formal training for Judges, and welcomed the formation of the Law Commission. When Lord Beeching headed a committee looking at court reform in 1971, Parker's memorandum was more radical than the committee's recommendations.

Death

Parker announced his retirement before the committee reported, and died the next year at the cattle farm he ran together with his wife of 48 years.

Arms

Coat of arms of Hubert Parker, Baron Parker of Waddington
Crest
A Stag trippant proper gorged with a Collar Vert
Escutcheon
Vert a Chevron between three Stags' Heads cabossed Or
Motto
Nec fluctu nec flatu movetur

References

  1. ^ D. A. S. Cairns, 'Parker, Hubert Lister, Baron Parker of Waddington (1900–1972)', rev. Robert Stevens, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2006, accessed 15 Feb 2010.
  2. ^ "Lord Parker of Waddington" (obituary), The Times, 16 September 1972, p. 14.
  3. "No. 41511". The London Gazette. 30 September 1958. p. 5973.
  4. "Officials And The Rule Of Law", The Times, 29 June 1960, p. 8.
  5. "Parker of Waddington, Baron (Law Lord) (UK, 1913 - 1918)".
Legal offices
Preceded byThe Lord Goddard Lord Chief Justice
1958–1971 		Succeeded byThe Lord Widgery
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