Ralph Cusack
Encyclopedia
Ralph Vincent Cusack later Sir Ralph Cusack, was a judge
of the High Court of England and Wales.
, the son of Dora and John Cusack, KC, later a judge (d. 1940), who once contested the seat of Newry
against Éamon de Valera
. One of his brothers, John Cusack, known as Jake (d. 1968), was Minister of the Interior of Kenya
during the Mau Mau period. Another brother, Dermot, died in 1914 in a car accident.
Cusack was brought up in England. He was educated at King's College School
and the University of London
, as well as in Italy. He passed his LLB in 1939 and was called to the Bar from Gray's Inn
in 1940. He then served during World War II
in the British Army until 1946. In 1943-44 he was a Staff Captain, HQ Eastern Command, and with a promotion to Major was Deputy Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office
from 1944 to 1946, before resuming his legal career.
From 1953 to 1960 he was a member of the General Council of the Bar
. In 1960 he became a QC
. He was Recorder
of Gloucester
from 1961 to 1964, and Recorder of Wolverhampton
from 1964 to 1966, the year in which he was appointed a High Court judge
. In the same year he was knighted, and elected a Master of the Bench of Gray's Inn.
Among his more notable cases, in 1962 he successfully defended two journalists who had refused to disclose their sources of information to the Vassall Tribunal
. In 1968 he was judge in the Mary Bell
trial at Newcastle upon Tyne
.
He died suddenly in March 1978. His obituary in The Times
described him as "the ideal judge... almost always being right and leaving the litigants thinking that he had been.". He was unmarried.
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
of the High Court of England and Wales.
Life
Cusack was born in IrelandIreland
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...
, the son of Dora and John Cusack, KC, later a judge (d. 1940), who once contested the seat of Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
against Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
. One of his brothers, John Cusack, known as Jake (d. 1968), was Minister of the Interior of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
during the Mau Mau period. Another brother, Dermot, died in 1914 in a car accident.
Cusack was brought up in England. He was educated at King's College School
King's College School
King's College School, commonly referred to as KCS, King's, or KCS Wimbledon, is an independent school for day pupils in Wimbledon in south-west London. The school was founded as the junior department of King's College London and occupied part of its premises in Strand, before relocating to...
and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, as well as in Italy. He passed his LLB in 1939 and was called to the Bar from 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 1940. He then served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the British Army until 1946. In 1943-44 he was a Staff Captain, HQ Eastern Command, and with a promotion to Major was Deputy Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
from 1944 to 1946, before resuming his legal career.
From 1953 to 1960 he was a member of the General Council of the Bar
General Council of the Bar
The General Council of the Bar, commonly known as the Bar Council, is the professional association for Barristers in England and Wales. Established in 1894, it acts as a disciplinary body and a regulatory body through the Bar Standards Board...
. In 1960 he became a QC
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...
. He was Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
from 1961 to 1964, and Recorder of Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
from 1964 to 1966, the year in which he was appointed a High Court judge
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
. In the same year he was knighted, and elected a Master of the Bench of Gray's Inn.
Among his more notable cases, in 1962 he successfully defended two journalists who had refused to disclose their sources of information to the Vassall Tribunal
Vassall Tribunal
The Vassall Tribunal was a public inquiry undertaken in 1963 by the British government in the wake of the John Vassall affair. Vassall, a civil servant working in the Admiralty, had been revealed the previous year to be a Soviet spy, and considerable criticism had been leveled at the security...
. In 1968 he was judge in the Mary Bell
Mary Bell
Mary Flora Bell was convicted in December 1968 of the manslaughter of two boys, Martin Brown and Brian Howe...
trial at Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
He died suddenly in March 1978. His obituary in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
described him as "the ideal judge... almost always being right and leaving the litigants thinking that he had been.". He was unmarried.