Foreword
I have known Sir Louis Blom-Cooper QC for most of my professional life. He has always been radical in his views. He was an early advocate of human rights, long before it was fashionable to be one.
His intelligence has shone through everything that he has done. Perhaps above all, his enthusiasm for and love of the law has been a hallmark of his life and remains undimmed even in old age. He continues to test and challenge received wisdom and has a knack of asking awkward questions. It is remarkable that he is still questioning and writing with vigour and insight.My first experience of him was when he was a civil practitioner. But he was then, as he has been throughout his long and distinguished career, very much more than that. If three words could describe the expansive nature of his contribution to the law and society, ‘peace, order, and good government, Lord Mansfield’s words from his seminal decision in R v Barker (1762) 3 Burr. 1264 come to mind. They are words that resonate throughout this majestic work and the essays collected within it. They are words that underpin this very public lawyer’s life and work. Whether the subject is the development of separation of powers, consideration of reform to the law of homicide, the role of jury trial in our justice system, or the proper development of media law and regulation, his writings demonstrate his keen search for answers to the broad question of how the law can help frame a good and just society. That this is a question that continues to face us only emphasises the importance and relevance of this collection. Each essay demonstrates a depth of analysis that is matched by the breadth of sources on which he has drawn. These include personal accounts derived from conversations and discussions with past Lord Chief Justices, personal experience drawn, for example, from his work as chair of the Howard League for Penal Reform or as chair of various public inquiries, or an examination of the work of Thomas Carlyle or Alexander Hamilton. All of this is as much a testament to Sir Louis’ intellectual and practical engagement over the course of a long and fruitful career as it is of benefit to the reader. Perhaps most importantly for an advocate who seeks to persuade, the essays are immediately engaging. I cannot commend this collection more highly.
The Right Honourable Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls