R.I.P. John Mortimer QC, creator of Rumpole of the Bailey.

[oggbashan]

John Mortimer QC was a multitalented man. An eminent lawyer, a novel and play writer, an entertaining raconteur and deserving of the accolade "National Treasure" despite, or perhaps because of, a cavalier attitude to women.

John Mortimer Obituary

Creator of Rumpole

He was one of the lawyers who had the respect and admiration of many people. He suffered a restricted career as a lawyer because of his courage in taking difficult cases about personal freedom, often challenging the Establishment and winning (and then pillorying them in his novels!).

I'll miss him.

Og

 

[starrkers]

Damn.

 

[OzArrian]

Yes, with the passing of Mortimer we lose another grand humourist in English literature who was also not frightened of wearing the wig and gown on behalf of some rather controversial clients in his days at the bar. And considering how important he was to defending the publishers in the Penguin "Lady Chatterley's Lover" case as well as the Oz obscenity trial defendants then perhaps a lot of us here should mutter a quiet thanks to him for contributing to the fight for free speech. And funnily enough he actually thought that "Lady Chatterley's Lover" was a pretty ordinary book.

John Mortimer Dead at 85

 

[neonlyte]

They re-told a wonderful anecdote of John Mortimer's on the steam radio last evening.

Under cross-examination, the witness, a young lady, was asked what the defendant had said to her.
"I can't say," the witness answered.
"Please answer the question," the Judge instructed.
"I can't it's too shameful."
"Well... write down what he said and the usher will pass it to the Jury."
The witness, handed a piece of paper and a pen by the court usher, wrote: "I'd really like to fuck you." Folded the paper twice and passed it back to the usher, who passed it to the Judge, who opening the paper, read it, raised his eyebrows, re-folded it and returned to the usher who presented it to the Jury foreman.

The note, unfold, read, and re-folded went from Jury member to Jury member. The last but one of whom, a lady in her middle age, nudged the older man next to her since he'd fallen asleep during the process.
He snapped to, took the proffered note, opened it, read it and bent across and whispered in the ear of the middle aged lady.
"What did you say to her," the Judge snapped at the elderly gentleman.
"Nothing, m'Lord... it is just a personal and private matter."

Good ol' Rumpole... not to be confused with Rumple, naturally.

 

[oggbashan]

Yes, with the passing of Mortimer we lose another grand humourist in English literature who was also not frightened of wearing the wig and gown on behalf of some rather controversial clients in his days at the bar. And considering how important he was to defending the publishers in the Penguin "Lady Chatterley's Lover" case as well as the Oz obscenity trial defendants then perhaps a lot of us here should mutter a quiet thanks to him for contributing to the fight for free speech. And funnily enough he actually thought that "Lady Chatterley's Lover" was a pretty ordinary book.

John Mortimer Dead at 85

It is an urban myth that he was involved in the defence of Lady Chatterley's Lover. He defended other "pornography" cases - but not that one.

However he was an impassioned and effective advocate of free speech, jury trials, and the independence of the judiciary. Even his Rumpole books are credited with changing the way the Police conduct interviews because he constantly queried "confessions" such as "It's a fair cop, guv. I done it.". The Police introduced tape recorded interviews partly as a result of Mortimer/Rumpole's effect on juries. Juries, after reading Rumpole, were much less likely to accept Police accounts unreservedly.

Og

 

[Noor]

"she who must be obeyed"

 

[OzArrian]

It is an urban myth that he was involved in the defence of Lady Chatterley's Lover. He defended other "pornography" cases - but not that one.

However he was an impassioned and effective advocate of free speech, jury trials, and the independence of the judiciary. Even his Rumpole books are credited with changing the way the Police conduct interviews because he constantly queried "confessions" such as "It's a fair cop, guv. I done it.". The Police introduced tape recorded interviews partly as a result of Mortimer/Rumpole's effect on juries. Juries, after reading Rumpole, were much less likely to accept Police accounts unreservedly.

Og

Well I feel like a bit of a twit Actually what really intrigues me nowfirst off where did Mortimer's fictitious role in the Chatterley trial come from and how is it major papers like The Independent etc have replicated the Penguin trial myth in their obituaries (my guess...lazy journalism).

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Sad news indeed. Let's all raise a glass of Pomeroy's ordinary in remembrance of a fine man and a great writer.