Reginald Croom-Johnson
Encyclopedia
Sir Reginald Powell Croom-Johnson KC
(1879–1957) was a British
politician and judge.
Croom-Johnson began his career as a solicitor
in 1901. In 1909 he married Ruby Ernestine Hobbs. They had two sons, one of whom was killed in 1940 while serving in the Second World War. In 1929, he was elected the Conservative
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Bridgwater. In 1938, he resigned his seat in Parliament
after being appointed a Justice of the High Court. This resignation precipitated the 1938 Bridgwater by-election
.
From October 1938 to January 1954, he was Judge High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division. He presided over the Oakham Assize of May 1947, when Mrs Teresa Agnes Yorke appeared charged with performing an illegal operation. As she pleaded guilty, the Jury was not sworn in, and the judge sentenced her to four years penal servitude. The Assize lasted a total of 24 minutes.
Reginald died at age 78 in Trull
, near Taunton
, Somerset
on 29 December 1957.
Several photographic portraits of Croom-Johnson exist in the National Portrait Gallery.
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...
(1879–1957) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician and judge.
Croom-Johnson began his career as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
in 1901. In 1909 he married Ruby Ernestine Hobbs. They had two sons, one of whom was killed in 1940 while serving in the Second World War. In 1929, he was elected the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Bridgwater. In 1938, he resigned his seat in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
after being appointed a Justice of the High Court. This resignation precipitated the 1938 Bridgwater by-election
Bridgwater by-election, 1938
The Bridgwater by-election, 1938 was a parliamentary by-election for the British House of Commons constituency of Bridgwater, Somerset held on 17 November 1938...
.
From October 1938 to January 1954, he was Judge High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division. He presided over the Oakham Assize of May 1947, when Mrs Teresa Agnes Yorke appeared charged with performing an illegal operation. As she pleaded guilty, the Jury was not sworn in, and the judge sentenced her to four years penal servitude. The Assize lasted a total of 24 minutes.
Reginald died at age 78 in Trull
Trull
Trull is village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated near Taunton. The parish which includes Dipford has a population of 1,861.-History:The name Trull is thought to derive from the word Trendle meaning circle or wheel....
, near Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
on 29 December 1957.
Several photographic portraits of Croom-Johnson exist in the National Portrait Gallery.