British novelist, playwright and ex-laywer John Mortimer died today. He was 85.
He was perhaps best known, and loved worldwide, as the inventor of the fictional character Rumpole of the Bailey whose legal philosophy was summed up in that magnificently witty phrase: "Crime doesn't pay, but it's a living."
According to Amazon.ca:
"Before there was Quincy and The Practice, there was Rumpole. Rumpole of the Bailey is, quite simply, one of the finest television series, and it has served as a model for all law dramas that followed it. Edgy and satirical, Rumpole is based on John Mortimer's books of the same name. A determined and committed criminal defense barrister (whose clients have included three generations of the Timson family, among others) at the Old Bailey (criminal court), esteemed actor Leo McKern portrays the antihero Rumpole. As champion of the downtrodden, the self-righteous Rumpole loves to get in trouble with his wife Hilda, his peers, the head of chambers, and judges, to name but a few. A connoisseur of Wordsworth, cigars, and cheap liquor, McKern's usually disheveled Rumpole belies the character's dry sense of humor and astute skill as a barrister (…)"
Respond: make a comment | read the 3 comments
Share:
Email
|
Save as PDF | Print
|
Bookmark & Share
|
|
More: in Miscellaneous or Practice of Law | from Michel-Adrien Sheppard
|
the count:
8281 posts | 11497 comments
recent comments  
As Richard Ferguson, a lawyer friend of ours says on his email message: “People may forget what you said…. People may forget what you did…. but people will never forget … »»Practice There are two possible approaches to personal current awareness: Develop excellent searching skills so that you can find what you need when you need it Pick a fairly narrow specialty … »»Research “It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating” was said once by Oscar Wilde. The final tip in this series is the capstone issue in our … »»Practice
-
Available online today are four new chapters of the publication Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report, which explores the socio-demographic and economic circumstances of Canadian women in general.
-
The bill amends the Constitution Act, 1867 by readjusting the number of members and the representation of the provinces in the House of Commons.
-
-
Blueseed plans to buy a ship and turn it into a floating incubator anchored in international waters off the coast of California.
-
Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the flow of information out of Ottawa has slowed to a trickle.
-
-
"…the IPC has exclusive jurisdiction to decide whether a record is in the custody or control of a university in the context of an access request…"
-
-
John J.L. Hunter, Q.C. of Vancouver has been elected President for 2011-2012
-
Detailed results from 321 members.
These summaries of selected recent cases are provided each week to Slaw by Maritime Law Book.
More information.
-
Limitation of Actions - Actions in contract - Actions for debt - General
Moody died on December 3, 2005, leaving four adult children. Pursuant to Moody’s will two of her children, James and Tyrell, were appointed executors of the estate. It was alleged that, during her ...
-
Barristers and Solicitors - Discipline - Suspension - For professional misconduct
McLean pled guilty five counts of conduct unbecoming a lawyer. The Discipline Committee suspended him from practice for four months and placed him on indefinite supervision. McLean appealed the length of the penalty.
The Saskatchewan ...
-
Mines and Minerals - Operation of mines, quarries and wells - Licences and permits - Appeals or judicial review - Standing - Costs
Grizzly Resources Ltd. (Grizzly). made an applications to the Energy Resources Conservation Board to drill two sour gas wells on the same site. ...
-
Narcotic Control - Offences - Trafficking - Elements of
The accused was charged with trafficking in cocaine. The trial judge granted the accused’s motion to discharge the charge. The Crown appealed.
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and ordered a new trial.
Link ...
This is a listing of a few upcoming events in Canada of interest to lawyers, law students, legal librarians, and others involved in the practice of law.
Clicking on any event in the list below will give you access to more information and to links allowing you to see the full entry and to add the event to your own calendar.
Click this link for a fuller version of the TalkLaw/ParLoi calendar of events and for instructions as to how to add events and calendars to your own calendar.
|
From the CBC article: "In the 1960s, he acted for Penguin Books in the Lady Chatterley's Lover obscenity trial, and later successfully defended the Sex Pistols when their Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols album resulted in a lawsuit."
And Geoff Robertson's loving tribute to Horace Rumpole is here
The BBC obit focuses on his legal career
His Strand award is now posthumous