13 Facts About Mervyn Griffith-Jones

Mervyn Griffith-Jones's much quoted remark in his opening statement as to whether the novel was something "you would even wish your wife or servants to read" is often cited as representing the extent to which the British establishment had fallen out of touch with popular opinion at the time.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones failed to convince the jury at the Chatterley trial, and the publishers were acquitted.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones's father, John Stanley Phillips Griffith-Jones, was a barrister.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones was educated at Eton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1932, specialising in criminal law.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones served with the Coldstream Guards during the Second World War, and was awarded the Military Cross in 1943.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones returned to the bar when he left the Army in October 1946 and became a specialist prosecuting counsel.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones was counsel for the Crown at the north London quarter sessions from 1946 to 1950, and then at the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey from 1950 to 1964.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones became senior Treasury counsel in 1959, and became a founder member of the Criminal Law Revision Committee that year.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones led the prosecution of Penguin Books for publishing Lady Chatterley's Lover in paperback format in the obscenity trial held at the Old Bailey from 20 October to 2 November 1960.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones was an accomplished artist and held three exhibitions in London in the 1970s.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones married Joan Clare Baker at St Peter's, Pimlico, in January 1947.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones died of renal failure at St Stephen's Hospital in Chelsea in 1979, aged 70, survived by his wife and children.

Mervyn Griffith-Jones has been portrayed by the following actors in film, television and theatre productions;.