John Kay (judge) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
Sir John Kay
Office:Lord Justice of Appeal
Term Start:2000
Term End:2004
Office2:Justice of the High Court
Term Start2:1992
Term End2:2000
Birth Date:13 September 1943
Birth Place:Sidcup, Middlesex, England
Death Place:South Bank, Greater London, England
Nationality:British
Children:3 (including Ben Kay and Amanda Yip)
Alma Mater:Christ's College, Cambridge
Spouse:Jennifer Ann Kay
Resting Place:Sefton Parish Churchyard, Sefton, Merseyside

Sir John William Kay PC (13 September 1943 – 2 July 2004) was a British judge who served as Lord Justice of Appeal, being a member of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales from 2000 until his death.[1]

Career

After being called to the bar in 1968 following a brief stint as a schoolteacher, he became a Queen's Counsel in 1984 and was named to the High Court of Justice of England and Wales in 1992.[2]

On the Court of Appeal he upheld the conviction of mass murderer Jeremy Bamber in 2002, perhaps his most celebrated case. He subsequently overturned the murder conviction of Sally Clark, accused of killing her two young sons, and dismissed the posthumous appeal in the name of the executed Ruth Ellis on largely technical grounds.[3]

Personal life

Growing up near Liverpool, he was educated at Denstone College and subsequently studied mathematics at Christ's College, Cambridge before switching to law. A keen rugby enthusiast he played for Waterloo Rugby Club in his youth and later became club president between 1995 and 1997. He married Jennifer Kay in 1966, when he had two daughters and a son. Ben, who was part of the victorious 2003 Rugby World Cup squad. His daughter Amanda was appointed to the High Court in 2017.[4]

Kay passed away on 2 July 2004 in London, following a heart attack. He was cremated and buried at Sefton Parish Churchyard in Sefton, Merseyside.

Notes and References

  1. News: Privy Council Appointments . https://web.archive.org/web/20040102051827/http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page2813.asp . 2 January 2004 . . 19 May 2000 . dead .
  2. Web site: Kay, Rt Hon. Sir John (William), (13 Sept. 1943–2 July 2004), a Lord Justice of Appeal, since 2000 . subscription . 25 September 2022 . WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO . 2007 . en . 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U22653. 978-0-19-954089-1 .
  3. Web site: 6 July 2004 . Obituary: Sir John Kay . 25 September 2022 . The Guardian . en.
  4. Web site: Sir John Kay . 25 September 2022 . www.telegraph.co.uk. 7 July 2004 .