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James Rant

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His Honour Judge
James Rant
CB QC
Judge Advocate General
In office
1 February 1991 – 25 May 2003
Nominated byThe Lord Mackay of Clashfern
Appointed byElizabeth II
Preceded byJames Stuart-Smith
Succeeded byJeff Blackett

James William Rant CB QC (16 April 1936 – 25 May 2003) was a British judge and the Judge Advocate General from 1991 until his death in 2003.[1]

Early life and education

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Rant was born on 16 April 1936 in the Romford district of Essex and was educated at Stowe School and Selwyn College, Cambridge.[1] He graduated from Selwyn College in 1958 and was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1961.[1]

Career

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Rant practised general law until 1970, when he began to specialise in criminal law. He became a QC in 1980 and by 1984 had become a circuit judge, sitting at the Old Bailey from 1986.[1]

In 1991, he was appointed the Judge Advocate General, the first for a long time without a background or connection to the military.[1] He made reforms to the court-martial system, including a centralised administration system for Army and Royal Air Force courts-martial and the introduction of judge advocates.[1] He further reformed the system to reflect the introduction of the Human Rights Act including the creation of summary appeal courts.[1]

Rant was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1995 Birthday Honours.[2]

Personal life

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Rant married in 1963 and had two daughters and two sons. He died on 25 May 2003, aged 67.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "His Honour Judge Rant." Times [London, England] 11 June 2003: 30. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 24 Feb. 2013.
  2. ^ "No. 54066". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 1995. p. 4.
Legal offices
Preceded by Judge Advocate General
1991 - 2003
Succeeded by