Courtenay Griffiths

{{Short description|British lawyer (1955–2025)}}

{{Short description|British lawyer (1955–2025)}}

{{EngvarB|date=December 2017}}

{{EngvarB|date=December 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}

{{Infobox person

{{Infobox person

| name = Courtenay Griffiths

| name = Courtenay Griffiths

==Early life==

==Early life==

Born in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] on 10 October 1955,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Griffiths, Courtenay Delsdue McVay, (born 10 Oct. 1955), QC 1998; a Recorder, since 2000|date=2007-12-01|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-18233|work=Who's Who|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u18233|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4 |access-date=2021-07-21|url-access=subscription}}</ref> the second youngest child of a [[carpenter]] father,<ref name=BarCouncil/> Griffiths moved to [[England]] with his family in 1961 and was raised in [[Coventry]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11059821|title=Courtenay Griffiths: Defending Charles Taylor|work=BBC News|date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Educated at [[Bablake School]], he graduated in 1979 with an LLB (Hons) from the [[London School of Economics]].<ref name=BLD2006>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlinebld.com/Courtenay_Griffiths_QC_LOM_Feb_March_06.html|title=BLD Lawyer of the Month: Courtenay Griffiths QC|work=Black Lawyers Directory|date=February–March 2006|access-date=8 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516040535/http://www.onlinebld.com/Courtenay_Griffiths_QC_LOM_Feb_March_06.html | archive-date=2010-05-16 }}</ref>

Born in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] on 10 October 1955,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Griffiths, Courtenay Delsdue McVay, (born 10 Oct. 1955), QC 1998; a Recorder, since 2000|date=1 December 2007|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-18233|work=Who's Who|publisher=Oxford University Press|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u18233|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4 |access-date=21 July 2021|url-access=subscription}}</ref> the second youngest child of a carpenter father,<ref name=BarCouncil/> Griffiths moved to England with his family in 1961 and was raised in [[Coventry]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11059821|title=Courtenay Griffiths: Defending Charles Taylor|work=BBC News|date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Educated at [[Bablake School]], he graduated in 1979 with an LLB (Hons) from the [[London School of Economics]].<ref name=BLD2006>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlinebld.com/Courtenay_Griffiths_QC_LOM_Feb_March_06.html|title=BLD Lawyer of the Month: Courtenay Griffiths QC|work=Black Lawyers Directory|date=February–March 2006|access-date=8 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516040535/http://www.onlinebld.com/Courtenay_Griffiths_QC_LOM_Feb_March_06.html | archive-date=16 May 2010 }}</ref>

==Career==

==Career==

In later years, he practised predominantly in criminal defence, including murder cases, fraud and drug offences. He practised from 25 Bedford Row Chambers. Griffiths sat part-time in the [[Crown Court]] as a [[Recorder (judge)|Recorder]],<ref name=BLD2006/> chaired the Public Affairs Committee of the [[General Council of the Bar|Bar Council]], and worked for several years as chair of its Race Relations Committee.<ref name=JamGlean20080427/>

In later years, he practised predominantly in criminal defence, including murder cases, fraud and drug offences. He practised from 25 Bedford Row Chambers. Griffiths sat part-time in the [[Crown Court]] as a [[Recorder (judge)|Recorder]],<ref name=BLD2006/> chaired the Public Affairs Committee of the [[General Council of the Bar|Bar Council]], and worked for several years as chair of its Race Relations Committee.<ref name=JamGlean20080427/>

Griffiths held honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degrees from [[Coventry University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alumni.coventry.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=567|title=Courtenay Griffiths QC – Honorary Doctor of Laws|publisher=Coventry University|access-date=8 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310100647/http://alumni.coventry.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=567|archive-date=10 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Leeds Metropolitan University]].<ref name=LeedsMet>{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/graduation/summer05/honorary/cgiffiths.htm|title=Courtenay Griffiths QC receives an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Leeds Metropolitan University|publisher=Leeds Metropolitan University|date=Summer 2005|access-date=8 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114203801/http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/graduation/summer05/honorary/cgiffiths.htm|archive-date=14 January 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, he gave the annual Norman Manley Lecture at the Norman Manley Law School, [[University of the West Indies]], which aims to highlight issues of national and international public concern.<ref name=JamGlean20080427>{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080427/out/out1.html|title= Courtenay Griffiths - Tough-talking avvocate|newspaper=Jamaica Gleaner|first=Avia |last=Collinder|date=27 April 2008|access-date=8 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605054316/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080427/out/out1.html | archive-date=2008-06-05 }}</ref>

Griffiths held honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degrees from [[Coventry University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alumni.coventry.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=567|title=Courtenay Griffiths QC – Honorary Doctor of Laws|publisher=Coventry University|access-date=8 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310100647/http://alumni.coventry.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=567|archive-date=10 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Leeds Metropolitan University]].<ref name=LeedsMet>{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/graduation/summer05/honorary/cgiffiths.htm|title=Courtenay Griffiths QC receives an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Leeds Metropolitan University|publisher=Leeds Metropolitan University|date=Summer 2005|access-date=8 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114203801/http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/graduation/summer05/honorary/cgiffiths.htm|archive-date=14 January 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2008, he gave the annual Norman Manley Lecture at the Norman Manley Law School, [[University of the West Indies]], which aims to highlight issues of national and international public concern.<ref name=JamGlean20080427>{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080427/out/out1.html|title= Courtenay Griffiths - Tough-talking avvocate|newspaper=Jamaica Gleaner|first=Avia |last=Collinder|date=27 April 2008|access-date=8 August 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605054316/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080427/out/out1.html | archive-date=5 June 2008 }}</ref>

On 16 March 2021, while representing [[Claudia Webbe]], Griffiths was taken to hospital by ambulance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://courtnewsuk.co.uk/mps-lawyer-taken-to-hospital/|title=MP's lawyer taken to hospital|date=16 March 2021 |website=Court News}}</ref>

On 16 March 2021, while representing [[Claudia Webbe]], Griffiths was taken to hospital by ambulance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://courtnewsuk.co.uk/mps-lawyer-taken-to-hospital/|title=MP's lawyer taken to hospital|date=16 March 2021 |website=Court News}}</ref>