Brian Barker

Brian John Barker QC (born 1945) is a British judge, currently holding the office of Common Serjeant of London, the second most senior judge in London's Central Criminal Court, a position to which he was appointed in 2005. [http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=162019&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=True Judicial Appointments] , Central Office of Information, 1 July 2005. Retrieved 22 September 2008.] [LondonGazette|issue=57697|startpage=8901|date=8 July 2005|accessdate=2008-09-22] He is the 79th person to hold the office.

Barker was called to the Bar from Gray's Inn in 1969 and was a leading criminal barrister excelling as a prosecutor and a defender. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1990,LondonGazette|issue=52123|startpage=8423|date=27 April 1990|accessdate=2008-09-22] and was appointed a circuit judge at the Old Bailey in 2000. [LondonGazette|issue=56067|startpage=14459|date=27 December 2000|accessdate=2008-09-22]

Formerly Chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, Barker was appointed Common Serjeant of London at the Old Bailey in 2005, succeeding Judge Peter Beaumont QC, since when he has presided over some of England's most notorious criminal cases, including those of Umran Javed, the murderers of Jody Dobrowski, [ [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/public_law/article675712.ece Killers of gay barman jailed for 28 years] , "The Times", 17 June 2006. Retrieved 22 September 2008.] and the murder trial of rapper 'Crazy Titch', aka Carl Dobson.

Barker is married to Dame Ann Rafferty QC, one of the United Kingdom's few female High Court judges, [LondonGazette|issue=55874|startpage=6423|date=13 June 2000|accessdate=2008-09-22] and with whom he has three daughters. Another daughter, who had Down's syndrome, died aged two. [Valerie Grove, "Woman against the rape of reason", "The Times", Interview with Anne Rafferty, QC, p.21, 20 June 1998.]

He lists his hobbies as golf and sheep rearing. Barker is a Governor of Sir John Cass's Foundation, one of London's oldest and largest education charities, which was founded in 1748. [ [http://www.sirjohncass.org/AboutUs/Governance/tabid/326/Default.aspx Sir John Cass's Foundation—Governance] . Retrieved 22 September 2008.] Barker is a Freeman of the City of London, and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Coopers serving on the Court of Assistants.

On 18 September 2008 Barker was questioned by the police after knocking a cyclist off his bicycle outside the Old Bailey. [ [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23557744-details/Old+Bailey+judge+is+questioned+after+crash+puts+cyclist+in+hospital/article.do Old Bailey judge is questioned after crash puts cyclist inhospital] , "Evening Standard", 19 September 2008] [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2989128/Senior-judge-in-car-crash-with-cyclist-outside-Old-Bailey.html Senior judge in car crash with cyclist outside Old Bailey] , "The Daily Telegraph, 19 September 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/56090/Mother-tells-of-grief-as-son-s-killer-jailed Barker presiding over the Martin Dinnegan murder trial]
* [http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=244123 Barker presiding over the Tom-Louis Easton murder trial]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1557948/'Honour-killing'-family-get-life-sentences.html Barker presiding over the Banaz Mahmod murder trial]
* [http://www.arbitratorscompany.org/pdfs/barker_051025.pdf Speech given by Barker to The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators]