Peter Thornton (judge)
{{Short description|British judge (born 1946)}}
{{Infobox judge
| name = Sir Peter Thornton
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|10|17|df=y}}
| alma_mater = St John's College
| occupation = Judge
| awards = Knight Bachelor (2017)
| honorific_prefix = His Honour
| honorific_suffix = KC
| office = Chief Coroner of England and Wales
| predecessor = None
| term_start = 2012
| term_end = 2016
| successor = Mark Lucraft
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
Sir Peter Ribblesdale Thornton KC (born 17 October 1946[https://doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U37646 Thornton, His Honour Sir Peter (Ribblesdale)], Who's Who) is a former Senior Circuit Judge and former Chief Coroner of England and Wales.
Legal career
Thornton is the son of Robert Ribblesdale Thornton CBE, a solicitor who served as town clerk in Salford and then Leicester and as a deputy lieutenant of Leicestershire. He was educated at Clifton College and St John's College, Cambridge.[https://www.middletemple.org.uk/bencher-persons-view?cid=33992 Sir Peter Thornton], Masters of the Bench, Middle Temple
He was called to the bar (Middle Temple) in 1969 and elected a Bencher in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/l/8868/Peter+Ribblesdale.aspx|title=His Honour Peter Thornton QC|work=Debrett's People of Today|accessdate=14 August 2012}} His trial and appellate practice included work in various jurisdictions, such as the Isle of Man and Bermuda, and appearances pro bono in death penalty cases before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (which serves as a court of last resort for some Commonwealth realms). He is a founder and former head of London's Doughty Street chambers. He chaired student disciplinary appeals at University College London and the Football Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/news_detail.cfm?iNewsID=228|title=Peter Thornton QC appointed Senior Circuit Judge|publisher=Doughty Street Chambers}}
Thornton was made Queen's Counsel in 1992, and became an editor of the practitioner text Archbold also in 1992. He was appointed an assistant recorder in 1994, became a recorder on 26 March 1997,{{London Gazette |issue=54721 |date=3 April 1997 |page=3991}} and a deputy High Court judge in 2003. Thornton was appointed a circuit judge on the South Eastern circuit on 12 November 2007.{{cite web |url=http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/judges-magistrates-and-tribunal-judges/list-of-members-of-the-judiciary/circuit-judge-list |title=Circuit Judge List |publisher=Judiciary of England and Wales |accessdate=14 August 2012 |archive-date=29 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429185921/http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/judges-magistrates-and-tribunal-judges/list-of-members-of-the-judiciary/circuit-judge-list |url-status=dead }} In 2011, having been specially appointed Assistant Deputy Coroner, he presided over the inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson, who died during protests at the 2009 G20 Summit in London. His appointment came after the Coroner for the City of London requested that ministers appoint an experienced figure.
On 22 May 2012, it was announced Thornton would be appointed as the first Chief Coroner of England and Wales from 17 September 2012. In that capacity he continued to sit on the Administrative Court so he could hear judicial reviews for coronial cases.{{cite press release|url=http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/media/media-releases/2012/appt-chief-coroner|title=Appointment of Chief Coroner|publisher=Judiciary of England and Wales|date=22 May 2012|accessdate=14 August 2012}} In 2015, his three-year term of office was extended to 1 October 2016, when he was succeeded by Mark Lucraft QC.[https://www.judiciary.uk/announcements/appointment-of-the-chief-coroner-of-england-and-wales/ Appointment of the Chief Coroner of England and Wales], 18 August 2016
Thornton reached the mandatory retirement age of 70, and retired as a Senior Circuit Judge, from 18 October 2016.[https://www.judiciary.uk/announcements/senior-circuit-judge-retirement-thornton-qc-2/ Senior Circuit Judge Retirement: Thornton QC], 18 October 2016 He was made a Knight Bachelor in the 2017 Birthday Honours for services to the administration of justice and the Coroner Service.{{London Gazette|issue=61962|supp=y|page=B2|date=17 June 2017}}
In November 2020 Thornton was appointed to the Independent Expert Panel which investigates misdemeanours by MPs{{Cite web | url=https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliaments-behaviour-code/independent-expert-panel-appointed/ | title=Independent Expert Panel Appointed | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125204018/https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliaments-behaviour-code/independent-expert-panel-appointed/ | archive-date=2022-01-25}}
In 1981, he married Susan Margaret Dalal; they have a son and a daughter.
References
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Category:Circuit judges (England and Wales)