Harry Kenneth Woolf, Baron Woolf
- Born:
- 2 May 1933, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Barrister, Judge, Law Lord, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
Early Life and Education
- Educated at University College School, Hampstead.
- Read law at University College London, graduating with a First Class Honours degree.
- Called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1955.
Career and Major Achievements
- Practiced as a barrister specializing in commercial and public law.
- Appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1979.
- Served as a Recorder from 1972 to 1981.
- Appointed to the High Court of Justice in 1981, receiving the customary knighthood.
- Promoted to the Court of Appeal in 1986.
- Became a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in 1992, becoming a life peer as Baron Woolf.
- Served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2000 to 2005.
- His tenure as Lord Chief Justice was marked by reforms to the civil justice system.
Notable Works
- Authored significant legal reports and reviews.
- Headed the inquiry into the Southall rail crash (1997).
- Chaired the public inquiry into the 1999 Omagh bombing.
- Conducted the review of the security of the Olympic Games in London 2012.
- His involvement in analyzing and reporting on the state of civil justice, including the considerations behind what many see as 'the interim report lord woolf biography', have had a profound impact on legal procedures.
Legacy and Impact
Lord Woolf is remembered for his significant contributions to the reform of the civil justice system in England and Wales, as well as his important work on various public inquiries. His efforts have aimed to make justice more accessible, efficient, and fair.