James Rant
His Honour Judge James Rant CB QC | |
|---|---|
| Judge Advocate General | |
| In office 1991–2003 | |
| Preceded by | James Stuart-Smith |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Blackett |
His Honour Judge 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
Rant was born on 16 April 1936 in the Romford district of Essex and was educated at the 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
Rant started practicing general law until 1970, when he began to specialise in criminal law, he became a barrister 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 a number of 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
Rant married in 1963 and had two daughters and two sons. He died on 25 May 2003, aged 67.[1]