James Hunt

Who was James Hunt?

Sir Patrick James Hunt was an English barrister and High Court judge.

Hunt was born in Coalville in Leicestershire, where his father was a solicitor. He was educated at the Boys' Grammar School in Ashby de la Zouch, and read modern history at Keble College, Oxford. He did not concentrate on his studies, spending his energies on extracurricular activities, and graduated with a fourth class degree.

He became a teacher of English, but was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1968 and joined the Chambers at 1 King's Bench Walk after serving a pupillage there with David Smout. He practised mainly in criminal law on the Midland and Oxford Circuit, with a side line in personal injury. His obituaries praise his strong court performance and ability to pitch his argument to suit the jury. He served as defence counsel in the Matrix Churchill case in 1992, and in the murder trial of Beverley Allitt in 1993. He was prosecution counsel in the trial of groom Clem O'Brien for the murder of racehorse trainer Alex Scott in 1995.

He became head of chambers at 36 Bedford Row from 1991 to 1999, and became a bencher at Gray's Inn.