24 April 2007
17/07
Announcement of appointment of new Deputy Coroner
Lord Justice Scott Baker will be appointed Assistant Deputy Coroner for Inner West London by the Coroner, Dr Paul Knapman, to conduct the inquests into the deaths of Diana Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed, in succession to Baroness Butler-Sloss. Baroness Butler-Sloss will continue to preside over pre-inquest hearings until Lord Justice Scott Baker takes up his appointment in June.
Baroness Butler-Sloss said:
“This was a decision I took in the interests of the inquests after a great deal of thought and reflection. These inquests now require a jury, and I do not have the degree of experience of jury cases that I feel is necessary and appropriate for presiding over inquests of this level of public interest.
“I must stress this does not require a fresh start for the inquests – I will continue to preside over pre-inquest hearings until Lord Justice Scott Baker takes up the appointment in June. This will ensure the inquests’ momentum is maintained while he will have the opportunity to familiarise himself with the voluminous paperwork associated with the inquests.”Notes for Editors
Biographical details for Lord Justice Scott Baker
Lord Justice Scott Baker was called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 1961. He was appointed as a Recorder in 1976 and remained one until 1988 when he was appointed as a High Court Judge in the Family Division (1988-92), and then transferred to the Queen’s Bench Division in 1992. In 1978 he was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel. He became a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2002.
He has held a number of judicial and other offices, including; Presiding Judge for the Wales and Chester Circuit (1991-95), Lead Judge of the Administrative Court (2000-02). He was a member of the Government Committee of Inquiry into Human Fertilisation (the Warnock Committee) 1982-84 and a member of the Parole Board 1999-2002. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford in 2003.
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