Stephen Irwin (judge)


Sir Stephen John Irwin, styled The Rt Hon Lord Justice Irwin, is a British judge and former barrister. Since September 2016, he has been a Lord Justice of Appeal. From May 2006 to 2016, he served as a judge of the High Court of England and Wales.

Early life and education

Irwin was born on 5 February 1953 in Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland. He was educated at Methodist College Belfast, a grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Having gained an open scholarship, he studied law and English at Jesus College, Cambridge. He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975. He then undertook a year of training in order to qualify as a barrister.

Legal career

In 1976, Irwin was called to the bar by Gray's Inn. He then practised as a barrister, and specialised in "clinical negligence, enquiries and scientific tort cases". On 8 April 1997, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel. In 1999, he was appointed an Assistant Recorder; as such, he served as a part-time judge in addition to practising a barrister. On 18 July 2000, he was appointed a Recorder of the South Eastern Circuit. 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to a group action over Gulf war syndrome against the Ministry of Defence which collapsed this year when legal aid was withdrawn because of a lack of scientific evidence.". In 2004, he served as Chairman of the Bar Council.

Judiciary

On 18 May 2006, Irwin was appointed a judge of the High Court of Justice. From 2008 to 2012, he was a Presiding Judge on the Northern Circuit. In 2012, he was appointed a Member of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. The SIAC has been described as the "most controversial" and "most secret court within English law". From January 2013 to December 2015, he served as Chairman of the SIAC. On 1 October 2016, he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal.

Personal life

In 1978, Irwin married Deborah Rose Ann Spring. Together they have three children; two daughters and one son. From 2012 to 2015, he served as Chair of the Poetry Society.

Honours

In 2006, as is customary for newly appointed High Court Judges, Irwin was made a Knight Bachelor and therefore granted the title Sir. 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.