Sir David Edward
Encyclopedia
Sir David Alexander Ogilvy Edward, KCMG
, QC
, FRSE
, PC
(born 1934) is a Scottish lawyer and academic, and former Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities.
. He studied Classics at the University of Oxford
, taking a break midway for National Service
in the Navy, and Law at the University of Edinburgh
, being called to the Bar
in 1962 and appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1974. He subsequently served as Clerk and then Treasurer of the Faculty, and represented the Faculty at the Consultative Committee of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Community, of which he served as President between 1978-80.
He was Salvesen Professor of European Institutions and Director of the Europa Institute at the School of Law
of the University of Edinburgh
from 1985 to 1989, during which time he served on three occasions as Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords
Select Committee on the European Communities
.
, and in 1992 was appointed Judge of the European Court of Justice
, a position from which he retired in 2004.
in Scotland, hearing civil appeals. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George
in 2004, having been made a Companion of that Order in 1981, and in December 2005 was sworn of the Privy Council. He is the Chairman of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland
and of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools. He is an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford
and an Honorary Bencher
of Gray's Inn
. He is Professor Emeritus of the School of Law
of the University of Edinburgh
, and Chairman of its Europa Institute. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
, and in 2005 received the Society's Royal Gold Medal. In 2011, He was appointed as the Honorary President of the Scottish Arbitration Centre
.
Sir David was a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution
chaired by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
, Chancellor
of the University of Glasgow
.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 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...
, FRSE
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
, PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(born 1934) is a Scottish lawyer and academic, and former Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities.
Early life
Edward was born in 1934 in PerthPerth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. He studied Classics at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, taking a break midway for National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the Navy, and Law at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, being called to the Bar
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1962 and 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 1974. He subsequently served as Clerk and then Treasurer of the Faculty, and represented the Faculty at the Consultative Committee of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Community, of which he served as President between 1978-80.
He was Salvesen Professor of European Institutions and Director of the Europa Institute at the School of Law
University of Edinburgh School of Law
The University of Edinburgh School of Law, founded in 1707, is a school within the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, dedicated to research and teaching in law. Known today as Edinburgh Law School, it is located in the historic Old College, the original site of the University...
of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
from 1985 to 1989, during which time he served on three occasions as Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
Select Committee on the European Communities
European Communities
The European Communities were three international organisations that were governed by the same set of institutions...
.
European Court of Justice
In 1989, he was appointed one of the inaugural Judges of the newly-created European Court of First InstanceCourt of First Instance
The General Court is a jurisdictional instance of the Court of Justice of the European Union. From its inception on 1 January 1989 to 30 November 2009, it was known as the Court of First Instance .-Competence:...
, and in 1992 was appointed Judge of the European Court of Justice
European Court of Justice
The Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
, a position from which he retired in 2004.
Retirement
Sir David now sits as a temporary judge of the Court of SessionCourt of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
in Scotland, hearing civil appeals. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 2004, having been made a Companion of that Order in 1981, and in December 2005 was sworn of the Privy Council. He is the Chairman of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland
Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland
The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland is a charitable trust established by Andrew Carnegie in 1901 for the benefit of the universities of Scotland, their students and their staff....
and of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools. He is an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
and an Honorary Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of 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...
. He is Professor Emeritus of the School of Law
University of Edinburgh School of Law
The University of Edinburgh School of Law, founded in 1707, is a school within the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, dedicated to research and teaching in law. Known today as Edinburgh Law School, it is located in the historic Old College, the original site of the University...
of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and Chairman of its Europa Institute. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
, and in 2005 received the Society's Royal Gold Medal. In 2011, He was appointed as the Honorary President of the Scottish Arbitration Centre
Scottish Arbitration Centre
The Scottish Arbitration Centre is the home of domestic and international arbitration in Scotland.Its members comprise the Scottish Government, the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.The Centre's...
.
Sir David was a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution
Commission on Scottish Devolution
The Commission on Scottish Devolution, also referred to as the Calman Commission, Scottish Parliament Commission or Review was established by an opposition Labour Party motion passed by the Scottish Parliament on 6 December 2007, with the support of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats...
chaired by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
Kenneth Calman
Sir Kenneth Charles Calman, KCB, DL, FRSE is a Scottish cancer researcher and former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University from 1998 to 2006, before becoming Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He has held the position of...
, Chancellor
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to him by the Senate, although this role is usually carried out by...
of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.