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Leveson inquiry counsel Robert Jay QC becomes high court judge Leveson inquiry counsel Robert Jay QC becomes high court judge
(about 1 hour later)
Robert Jay QC, the leading counsel in the Leveson inquiry, who cross-examined David Cameron and Rupert Murdoch, is among three new high court judges appointed on Wednesday.Robert Jay QC, the leading counsel in the Leveson inquiry, who cross-examined David Cameron and Rupert Murdoch, is among three new high court judges appointed on Wednesday.
The bearded barrister, praised for his courteous but insistent method of questioning, emerged as one of the media stars of the televised sessions, grilling witnesses with a succession of well-turned phrases.The bearded barrister, praised for his courteous but insistent method of questioning, emerged as one of the media stars of the televised sessions, grilling witnesses with a succession of well-turned phrases.
Jay, 53, will join the high court next month. He is head of 39 Essex Street chambers and was last year barrister of the year at the Lawyer magazine awards, chiefly for his calm but entertaining performances at the inquiry into press standards. Jay, 53, will join the high court next month and sit in the Queen's Bench Division, which deals with civil actions for personal injuries, debt, breach of contract and other claims. He is head of 39 Essex Street chambers and was last year made barrister of the year at the Lawyer magazine awards, chiefly for his calm but entertaining performances at the inquiry into press standards.
His rich vocabulary, including such rarely used words as "bailiwick", "condign", "propinquity" and "occlude", lifted the tone of the long sessions before Lord Justice Leveson.His rich vocabulary, including such rarely used words as "bailiwick", "condign", "propinquity" and "occlude", lifted the tone of the long sessions before Lord Justice Leveson.
He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1998 and has served as a recorder since 2000. The salary of a high court judge is £174,481 – which probably amounts to a pay cut considering Jay's recent earning as leading counsel. Jay was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1998 and has served as a recorder since 2000. The salary of a high court judge is £174,481 – which probably amounts to a pay cut considering his recent earning as leading counsel.
Of the £1,992,600 total spent on the inquiry up to 31 January 2012, £536,100 was used to meet the costs of a legal team originally comprising three barristers. Jay would have taken the largest share.
Jay graduated from New College, Oxford, in 1980 with a first-class honours degree in jurisprudence. His wife, Deborah, is an author. He is a keen cyclist. One friend was quoted as saying: "His greatest love is Wagner and the Ring Cycle."
Two other high court judges have also been appointed. They are Susan Lascelles Carr QC and Judge Andrew Gilbart QC, who is the honorary recorder of Manchester and sentenced rioters in the city following the 2011 disturbances.Two other high court judges have also been appointed. They are Susan Lascelles Carr QC and Judge Andrew Gilbart QC, who is the honorary recorder of Manchester and sentenced rioters in the city following the 2011 disturbances.