Tributes to judge of ‘compassion and humanity’
Tributes have been paid to a retired judge, John Gower QC, who died, aged 91, last Friday after a short illness.
Maidstone Crown Court’s resident Judge Jeremy Carey said Judge Gower had a distinguished career at the Bar and long service on the bench.
Judge Gower, who sat at Maid- stone, served in the Royal Signals as a staff sergeant before being called to the Bar in 1948.
He “took silk” to become a QC in 1967 and was appointed a circuit judge in 1972. He was Resident Judge in East Sussex for 10 years.
“He was not only eloquent but had the gift of the most lovely voice which he used to good effect,” said Judge Carey.
He once called actor Laurence Olivier as a witness in a case, he said, and it turned into a competition to see who had the most mellifluous voice.
“Twenty- one years on the bench is as much, if not more, any judge should be expected to serve – the equivalent of a 42-year determinate sentence,” quipped Judge Carey.
“He extended it by three years by sitting as a Deputy Judge at Maidstone. He was a judge who exemplified all that was required, with a degree of compassion and much humanity.” It gave him great satisfaction that his son Peter Gower QC had gone on to be a judge sitting at Croydon Crown Court.
Judge Carey added: “It is right we should recognise his considerable contribution both to the Bar and as a judge – a good life and a peaceful end.”
Judge James O’Mahony led tributes at Canterbury Crown Court, remembering the judge’s favourite opening words when passing sentence: “Now is the time for you to be punished.”
Ian Foinette, for the Kent Bar, said Judge Gower had the ability to “instantly see through the fog and find the essential parts of a case and deal with them properly”.
Mr Foinette added: “He was a decent man, he was a fine judge. He had time for everyone and acted as a mentor.
“He had all the real qualities necessary to be a fine judge.”