Sir Stephen Irwin | |
|---|---|
| Lord Justice of Appeal | |
| In office September 2016 –October 2020 | |
| Monarch | Queen Elizabeth II |
| Justice of the High Court | |
| In office May 2006 –September 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Stephen John Irwin 5 February 1953 Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse | Deborah Rose Ann Spring (m. 1978) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Methodist College Belfast |
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge |
Sir Stephen John Irwin (born 5 February 1953), is a retired British judge and barrister. From September 2016 until October 2020, he was a Lord Justice of Appeal (an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales). From May 2006 to 2016, he served as a judge of the High Court of England and Wales. [1]
Irwin was born on 5 February 1953 in Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland. [2] [3] He was educated at Methodist College Belfast, a grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. [4] Having gained an open scholarship, he studied law and English at Jesus College, Cambridge. [5] He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1975. [2] He then undertook a year of training in order to qualify as a barrister.
In 1976, Irwin was called to the bar by Gray's Inn. [2] [3] He then practised as a barrister, and specialised in "clinical negligence, enquiries and scientific tort cases". [3] On 8 April 1997, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel (QC). [6] In 1999, he was appointed an Assistant Recorder; as such, he served as a part-time judge in addition to practising a barrister. [3] [7] On 18 July 2000, he was appointed a Recorder of the South Eastern Circuit. [8] During the 2002/2003 tax year, he received £314,000 in legal aid fees; "Mr Irwin received £314,000, most of which is likely to relate to a group action over Gulf war syndrome against the Ministry of Defence which collapsed this year when legal aid was withdrawn because of a lack of scientific evidence.". [9] In 2004, he served as Chairman of the Bar Council. [2]
In 2020, Irwin was elected Master Treasurer of Gray's Inn and is customarily referred to as 'Master Irwin' when acting in his capacity as a bencher. [10]
On 18 May 2006, Irwin was appointed a judge of the High Court of Justice (Queen's Bench Division). [11] From 2008 to 2012, he was a Presiding Judge on the Northern Circuit. [3] [7] In 2012, he was appointed a Member of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). [2] The SIAC has been described as the "most controversial" and "most secret court within English law". [12] From January 2013 to December 2015, he served as Chairman of the SIAC. [7] On 1 October 2016, he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal. [13] He retired from full-time judicial duties on 7 October 2020 but continues to sit part-time as Deputy Lord Justice of Appeal. [14]
In November 2020 Irwin was announced as the part-time Chair of the House of Commons Independent Expert Panel which adjudicates complaints of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment brought against Members of Parliament. [15]
In 1978, Irwin married Deborah Rose Ann Spring. Together they have three children; two daughters and one son. [2] From 2012 to 2015, he served as Chair of the Poetry Society.
In 2006, as is customary for newly appointed High Court Judges, Irwin was made a Knight Bachelor and therefore granted the title Sir . [2] On 24 October 2016, he was appointed a Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, and therefore granted the style of The Right Honourable. [16]