His Honour Judge Nicholas Cooke KC
20 May 2024
We are pleased to be joined by His Honour Judge Nicholas Cooke KC, Former Recorder at Cardiff and Judge at the Central Criminal Court, on the 20th May 2024 for a dinner event. This event is kindly sponsored by Knight Frank.
Nicholas Cooke was called to the Bar in 1977, having been awarded a Blackstone Entrance Exhibition by the Middle Temple. He practised from Cardiff throughout his career, being appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1998. He appeared in all levels and types of courts, inquiries, and tribunals, from Cardiff Magistrates Court to the House of Lords. Highlights included acting as counsel to the Children’s Commissioner in the Clywch Inquiry into child abuse which followed the death of John Owen and appearing for a Muslim politician charged with ordering the killing of three Hindus in Mauritius.
He was appointed the Recorder of Cardiff in 2007 and was transferred to the Central Criminal Court (“The Old Bailey”) in 2012. He sat as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division, Administrative Court, and Planning Court, and as an Additional Judge of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). During his judicial career he tried more cases of murder in South Wales and London than he now cares to remember. He was made a Bencher of his Inn of Court in 2010 and awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Aberystwyth University, his alma mater, in 2022.
Nicholas gave the inaugural lecture to the Welsh Legal History Society in 2002 in the presence of Lord Bingham. It was subsequently published as The King v. Richard Lewis and Lewis Lewis (Cardiff 13th July 1831)
He has been a trustee of the children’s advocacy charity Tros Gynnal and is a trustee of a charity which assists destitute asylum seekers, Home4U Cardiff. He became the Chancellor of the Diocese of St Davids in 2004 and is also the President of the Provincial Court of the Church in Wales. He has been a governor of Glasllwch Primary School and Howell’s School Cardiff. Talking to children, faith groups, students and professionals has been a frequent feature of his career.
Nicholas has lived in Newport since 1977 and is a season ticket holder at Newport County AFC in addition to occasionally turning out for the Welsh Dragons Over 65’s Hockey Team. He is currently studying part-time for a D.Phil. (Law) at Worcester College, Oxford. A Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers and a Member of the City Pickwick Club, Nicholas has strong links with the City of London.
This event is open to all who wish to attend. The event will start at 18:00 with a drinks reception, the lecture will start at 18:45 and the dinner will take place from 19:45-21:30.
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