James John Skinner
Encyclopedia
James John Skinner was an Irish
-born Zambia
n politician and jurist. He was the first Minister of Justice of independent Zambia
and the only White member of Zambia's first cabinet. Following his time as a Zambian jurist, Skinner moved to neighbouring Malawi
, where he was Chief Justice from 1970 to 1985.
prior to attending Trinity College, Dublin
. Following studying at Trinity College, Skinner was called to the King's Inns
and to the English Bar at Gray's Inn
in 1945.
. A defender of African rights, Skinner joined the mainly African United National Independence Party
(UNIP) in 1960 and quickly became the party's legal advisor. Ostracized by most White residents of the colony, Skinner lost in his bid for a seat in the pre-independence parliament in the 1962 parliamentary election. Two years later in the first election following independence, he was elected to represent a constituency of Lusaka
. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
in Northern Rhodesia on 9 September 1964. In 1965, he was honoured with the Grand Commander by Order of Menelik II award from Ethiopia
, recognizing his contributions to Zambia's independence. Skinner was the Attorney General of Zambia from independence until 1967, when he was appointed Justice Minister. In March 1969, he was appointed Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Zambia.
over the sentencing of Portuguese soldiers from neighbouring Angola caught in Zambia. The soldiers were caught on the Zambian side of the Angolan-Zambian border and were arrested. A fellow expatriate jurist, Ifor Evan, concluded the original arrest of the soldiers was "trivial" and dismissed the charges. When appealed to Skinner, he sided with Evans. Kaunda, a long time friend of Skinner, attacked the White-dominated court for siding with the soldiers. Supporters of Kaunda stormed the Court building following the ruling, attacking the Whites inside. Kaunda quickly apologized, but Evan and Skinner fled the country, with Skinner going on "indefinite sick leave". A month later, he was replaced on the court by Brian Doyle
, a fellow White Zambian.
, lasting in that position until 1985. In that year, Skinner returned to Ireland, the country of his birth, where lived out his life with his wife and two children. He died in October 2008 at the age of 85.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
n politician and jurist. He was the first Minister of Justice of independent Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and the only White member of Zambia's first cabinet. Following his time as a Zambian jurist, Skinner moved to neighbouring Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, where he was Chief Justice from 1970 to 1985.
Early life
Skinner was born in July 1923 in Clonmel, Republic of Ireland, to WJ Skinner, and Kathleen O'Donnell. He attended Clongowes Wood CollegeClongowes Wood College
Clongowes Wood College is a voluntary secondary boarding school for boys, located near Clane in County Kildare, Ireland. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1814, it is one of Ireland's oldest Catholic schools, and featured prominently in James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the...
prior to attending Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. Following studying at Trinity College, Skinner was called to the King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
and to the English Bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1945.
Emigration to Northern Rhodesia and entrance to politics
Six years later in 1951, Skinner emigrated to Northern RhodesiaNorthern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
. A defender of African rights, Skinner joined the mainly African United National Independence Party
United National Independence Party
The United National Independence Party is a political party in Zambia. It governed that country from 1964 to 1991 under the presidency of Kenneth Kaunda....
(UNIP) in 1960 and quickly became the party's legal advisor. Ostracized by most White residents of the colony, Skinner lost in his bid for a seat in the pre-independence parliament in the 1962 parliamentary election. Two years later in the first election following independence, he was elected to represent a constituency of Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in Northern Rhodesia on 9 September 1964. In 1965, he was honoured with the Grand Commander by Order of Menelik II award from Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, recognizing his contributions to Zambia's independence. Skinner was the Attorney General of Zambia from independence until 1967, when he was appointed Justice Minister. In March 1969, he was appointed Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Supreme Court of Zambia.
Resignation
Skinner did not last long in his position as Chief Justice in Zambia. He resigned 6 months later in September 1969 following a clash with President Kenneth KaundaKenneth Kaunda
Kenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
over the sentencing of Portuguese soldiers from neighbouring Angola caught in Zambia. The soldiers were caught on the Zambian side of the Angolan-Zambian border and were arrested. A fellow expatriate jurist, Ifor Evan, concluded the original arrest of the soldiers was "trivial" and dismissed the charges. When appealed to Skinner, he sided with Evans. Kaunda, a long time friend of Skinner, attacked the White-dominated court for siding with the soldiers. Supporters of Kaunda stormed the Court building following the ruling, attacking the Whites inside. Kaunda quickly apologized, but Evan and Skinner fled the country, with Skinner going on "indefinite sick leave". A month later, he was replaced on the court by Brian Doyle
Brian Doyle
Brian Doyle may refer to:*Brian J. Doyle , former press secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security*Brian Doyle , former Major League Baseball infielder*Brian Doyle , Canadian writer...
, a fellow White Zambian.
Malawian law and return to Ireland
Skinner became the Chief Justice of Malawi in 1970 under Hastings BandaHastings Banda
Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the leader of Malawi and its predecessor state, Nyasaland, from 1961 to 1994. After receiving much of his education overseas, Banda returned to his home country to speak against colonialism and advocate for independence...
, lasting in that position until 1985. In that year, Skinner returned to Ireland, the country of his birth, where lived out his life with his wife and two children. He died in October 2008 at the age of 85.