Biographical Details - Lord Justice Auld
On 14 December 1999 Sir Robin Auld was appointed by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, to review
how the criminal courts in England and Wales work at all levels. Sir Robin has been a Lord
Justice of Appeal since 1995 and was appointed a High Court Judge in 1987.
Born on 19 July 1937,
he was educated at Brooklands College and King's College, London, graduating with a 1st Class
Honours degree in Law in 1958. He obtained a doctorate in law in 1963 and was appointed a
King's College Fellow in 1987.
Sir Robin was called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) in 1959 and
made a Bencher in 1984. He practised on the South East Circuit until 1987, during which period he was
appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1975 and admitted to the New York State Bar in 1984.
He was a
Member of the Committee of Inquiry into casino gambling in the Bahamas during 1967. Between 1969 to
1975 he was Prosecuting Counsel to the Department of Trade, following which he was the Department of
Trade Inspector into Ashbourne Investments Ltd (1975-79).
In 1981 he served as Counsel to the Inquiry into the Brixton Disorders.
Sir Robin has chaired two public enquiries, the William Tyndale Schools' Inquiry (1975-76) and
the Home Office Committee of Inquiry into Sunday Trading (1983-84).
His first judicial
appointment was as a Recorder from 1977 until 1987, following which he was appointed to the
High Court Bench.
He chaired the Criminal Committee of the Judicial Studies Board from 1989
until 1991. After four years as Presiding Judge of the Western Circuit, Sir Robin was the
Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales between 1995-1998.
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