Courtenay Griffiths

Courtenay Griffiths QC is a Jamaican-born British barrister, notable for his defence within a number of high-profile cases, and is currently a member of London-based 25 Bedford Row Chambers

Early life

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, the second youngest child of a carpenter father,[1] Griffiths moved to England with his family in 1961 and was raised in Coventry.[2] Educated at Bablake School, he graduated in 1979 with an LLB (Hons) from the London School of Economics.[3]

Career

Griffiths was inspired to pursue a law career after his father told him stories about Norman Manley QC, the first Prime Minister of Jamaica.[1] Following a period of pupillage Griffiths was called to the bar in 1980.[3]

He next became Legal Assistant to the Greater London Council's Police Support Committee, and then spent 12 months as a Revson Fellow at City College, New York. On return to the UK he practised mainly in West Yorkshire, in the Leeds and Bradford courts. He was made Queen's Counsel in 1998.[3]

Today he practises predominantly in criminal defense, notably in the most complex of murder cases as well as fraud and drug offences. He practices from 25 Bedford Row Chambers who were recently voted 'Crime Set of the Year'. Courtenay also sits part-time in the Crown Court as a Recorder,[3] chairs the Public Affairs Committee of the Bar Council, and worked for several years as chair of its Race Relations Committee.[4]

Griffiths holds honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from both Coventry University[5] and Leeds Metropolitan University.[6] In 2008, he gave the annual Norman Manley Lecture at the Norman Manley Law School, University of the West Indies, which aims to highlight issues of national and international public concern.[4]

Notable cases

Personal life

Married, with two boys, Griffiths, before his marriage, also had two children with whom he maintains a relationship. He collects a wide range of music,[4] supports Liverpool F.C. and the West Indies Cricket Team,[3][10] and is a Trustee of the Bernie Grant Trust.[6]

References
  1. "Courtenay Griffiths QC". Bar Council. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  2. "Courtenay Griffiths: Defending Charles Taylor". BBC News. 26 August 2010.
  3. "Courtenay Griffiths QC". Black Lawyers Directory. February–March 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  4. "Courtenay Griffiths - Tough-talking avvocate". Jamaica Gleaner. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  5. "Courtenay Griffiths QC". Coventry University. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  6. "Courtenay Griffiths QC receives an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Leeds Metropolitan University". Leeds Metropolitan University. Summer 2005. Archived from the original on 14 January 2006. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  7. "Damilola police 'prompted witness'". BBC News. 15 February 2002. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  8. Gary Slapper and David Kelly (5 June 2009). The English Legal System: 2009-2010. Routledge-Cavendish. ISBN 9780415485784. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  9. Spence, Alex (14 July 2009). "British QC Courtenay Griffiths prepares to defend Africa's most notorious warlord". The Times. London. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  10. "Courtenay Griffiths QC". 25 Bedford Row Chambers. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
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