11 Facts About James Miskin

Sir James William Miskin, was a British barrister and judge.

James Miskin served as Recorder of London, the senior judge at the Central Criminal Court Old Bailey, from 1975 to 1990.

James William Miskin was born in Hong Kong on 11 March 1925, the son of Geoffrey Miskin, general manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank.

James Miskin served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve between 1943 and 1946, before going to Brasenose College, Oxford, graduating in 1949.

The couple later divorced, and in 1980 Miskin married Sheila Joan Collett.

James Miskin was called to bar in 1951 and developed a common law practice, principally in family and medical negligence work, being appointed Queen's Counsel in 1967.

In 1975 James Miskin was appointed Recorder of London, the senior judge at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, a post that tries many of England's most serious criminal cases.

James Miskin was often outspoken, expressing views on justice issues including prison funding, raising the minimum age for jurors and re-introduction of capital punishment for premeditated murder.

James Miskin's sentencing became more erratic and he publicly used ethnic slurs including, at a Mansion House dinner, referring to 'nig-nogs' and 'murderous Sikhs'.

James Miskin retired in 1990, and died at his home in Horsham, Sussex on 21 November 1993 aged 68 from Alzheimer's disease.

For many years James Miskin was a lieutenant of the City of London and was knighted in the 1983 Birthday Honours list.