He is also remembered for his courageous dissenting judgement in Liversidge v. Anderson in which he unsuccessfully asserted the courts' right to question the wide discretionary powers of the World War II security services to detain aliens.
Bibliography
Atkin, J. R. (1922) Law for LaymenJohn O'London's Weekly
- (1922) When Witnesses FailThe Detective Magazine
Atkin, JamesRichard, Baron Atkin 1867-1944, judge, was born at Brisbane, Australia, 28 November1867, the eldest son of Robert Travers Atkin, of Fernhill, county Cork, who settled in Queensland and became a member of the legislative assembly, by his wife, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Laurence Ruck, of Newington, Kent.
In 1913Atkin was raised to the bench as a judge of the King's Bench division, was knighted as is customary, and began a long and outstanding period of thirty-one years as a judge.
Atkin dissented alone, for his colleagues took a different view of the powers which were conferred upon the executive in a national emergency, but it may well be that Atkin's opinion will be regarded as being nearer to the general rule applicable in normal times.
Feeds |
Contact