John B. Mortimer

Judge in Hong Kong (born 1931)

This article is about the judge. For the writer, see John Mortimer.

The Honourable Mr Justice

John Barry Mortimer

GBS, SPMB, OBE, QC

President of the Court of Appeal of Brunei Darussalam
In office
2010–2018
Preceded by| Sir Noel Power
Succeeded by| Michael Burrell
Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam
In office
2005–2010
Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong
In office
1997–2015
Vice President of the Court of Appeal of Hong Kong
In office
1997–1999
Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of Hong Kong
In office
1993–1997
Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong
In office
1985–1993
Personal details
Born|  (1931-08-07) 7 August 1931 (age 93)
United Kingdom
Alma mater| Emmanuel College, Cambridge

John Barry Mortimer, GBS, SPMB, OBE, QC (Chinese: 馬天敏; born 7 August 1931) is a British barrister who has held senior judicial appointments in Hong Kong and Brunei Darussalam.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Mortimer was born in the United Kingdom in 1931. He was educated at St Peter's School, York.[1] He graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge with a BA in 1955.[2]

## Legal career

[edit]

Mortimer was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in England in 1956. He took silk in 1971. He was elected a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 1981.[1]

## Judicial career

[edit]

In 1985, Mortimer was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Hong Kong.[2]

From 1989 to 1995, Mortimer was a member of the Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong.[3]

In 1993, Mortimer was appointed a Justice of Appeal, and in 1997 became Vice President of the Court of Appeal of Hong Kong (a position in which he served until he retired from the Court of Appeal in 1999). Between 1997 and 2015, he was a Non-Permanent Judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.[2]

In 2002, Mortimer was elected as a Senior Bencher of the Middle Temple.[1]

In 2005, Mortimer was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam.[4] Between 2010 and 2018, Mortimer served as President of the Court of Appeal of Brunei Darussalam.[5]

### Honours

[edit]

In 1999, Mortimer was awarded the Golden Bauhinia Star by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.[2]

On retirement from the bench in 2018, Mortimer was awarded the Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei (First Class) by the Sultan of Brunei.[6]

In the 2019 New Year Honours, Mortimer was appointed OBE for services to law by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.[7][8][9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Masters of the Bench: The Hon Barry Mortimer GBS OBE QC". Middle Temple.
2. ^ a b c d "Mr John Barry MORTIMER, GBS". Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.
3. ^ "Commission members & staff". The Law Reform Commission of Hong Kong.
4. ^ "New appointments at Supreme Court" (PDF). Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister's Office (Department of Information). 27 April 2005.
5. ^ "The Deputy Sultan attends the swearing-in of new judges" (PDF). Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister's Office (Department of Information). 8 May 2010.
6. ^ "His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to bestow state decorations to two members of the Judiciary". State Judiciary Department, Brunei Darussalam. 18 July 2018.
7. ^ "DSP John Barry Mortimer awarded O.B.E." State Judiciary Department, Brunei Darussalam. 25 March 2019.
8. ^ "John MORTIMER | Order of the British Empire | the Gazette".
9. ^ https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/767769/DSO_NY19_CH___BE_HMTQ.pdf [bare URL PDF]

Order of precedence

Previous:
Michael Suen
Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star |  Hong Kong order of precedence
Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star | Succeeded by

Antony Leung
Recipients of the Gold Bauhinia Star