Bernard Rix

Sir Bernard Anthony Rix (born 8 December 1944), styled The Rt Hon. Lord Justice Rix, is an English judge, who has been a Lord Justice of Appeal since 2000.

Family

Rix is the son of Otto Rix and Sadie Silverberg. In 1983, he married Karen Young (now The Hon. Lady Rix), daughter of David Young, later Baron Young of Graffham; they have three sons and two daughters.

Education

Rix was educated at St Paul's School in London. He went on to New College, Oxford, where he read Honour Moderations (1964) and the Final Honour School (1966) in "Literae Humaniores" the Final Honour School of Jurisprudence (1968), graduating BA and MA. He was elected a Kennedy Scholar in 1968 and studied at Harvard Law School, where he was awarded an LLM in 1969.

Law career

Rix was called to the Bar in the Inner Temple, 1970 (bencher 1990). He became a QC in 1981. He was a member of the Senate of the Inns of Court and Bar between 1981-83, a Recorder of the Crown Court, 1990-93, judge of the High Court of Justice (Queen's Bench division) between 1993-00 and Judge in charge of Commercial List, 1998-99. He was also a member of the Bar Council, 1981-83 and was Treasurer of Inner Temple in 2005.

Rix has also been the president of the Harvard Law School Association of the UK since 2002, vice-president of the British Friends of Bar Ilan University since 1999, member of the board of trustees of Bar Ilan University from 1988 to 1999, chairman of the Commercial Bar Association from 1992 to 1993, and the vice-chairman of the Central Council for Jewish Community Services from 1993 to 1996. He wrote a report on youth services and organizations in 1994.

In November 2007, Rix controversially overturned life sentences awarded to two Cheshireteenagers who terrorized a vulnerable man before beating him to death and throwing his body in a river. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7085654.stm]

Since 1986, Rix has also been a director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He ran The Spiro Institute from 1995 to 1999.

In his spare time, Rix enjoys music, opera, fencing and Italian culture. Rix also is renowned for a fine collection of ancient glass, including medieval and Roman goblets filled with alcohol. His favourite song is "achie breaky heart". He is a lover of country western music, especially Dolly Parton, Greasy Spoon.

ee also

*List of British Jews