Ch 7 – Lord Denning – Remembered

October 9, 2026

Justice, and only justice, you shall follow… (Deuteronomy 16:20 ESV)

Beginnings

Alfred Thompson Denning was born on 23 January 1899 to Charles and Clara Denning. He had four brothers (Reginald, Norman, Jack, and Gordon) and a sister (Marjorie). His sister named him after King Alfred the Great, an appropriate namesake.Citation

His formative years were spent at the National School of Whitchurch, and then at Andover Grammar School. From there, he went to Magdalen College Oxford to study mathematics. He took a break to fight for Britain during the First World War but returned to Oxford to finish his degree.

Graduating in 1920, he went on to fill the role of teacher of mathematics at Winchester College. However, he became bored with teaching mathematics, so returned to Magdalen College to study jurisprudence. Thus began his journey with the law.

Legal Career

A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. (Proverbs 18:6 KJV)

Denning’s journey in the law exemplifies Proverbs 18:6. He was gifted with a keen intellect and could easily retrieve information. His memory was unmatched, and his rhetorical skills were even greater.

As a barrister, he built up a practice at 4 Brick Court, Middle Temple, and then started his own set of chambers in Brick Court. His work was varied, and he made many appearances in the High Court and other senior courts. Taking silk in 1938, he was well-regarded by his colleagues.

In the middle of all this, Denning was setting up his family. He married Mary Harvey in 1932 with whom he had a son; tragically, she died in 1941. In 1945, he married Joan Stuart, a widow with three children; she died in 1992.

Seek justice, and only justice

Lord Denning became a judge in 1944, a role in which he excelled, clearly and unashamedly pointing to the God he served. We recognise his appointment to be of God (Romans 13:1), and Denning’s understanding of this truth shaped how he viewed his role. Denning said, “If you are an advocate you want your client to win. If you are a judge you don’t care who wins exactly. All you are concerned about is justice.”Citation

We see that Denning’s comments echo Deuteronomy 16:18-20, where the LORD instructs the people of Israel:

You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not prevent justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Judges are supposed to judge the people with righteous judgment. Justice, and only justice, is what they should follow. So Lord Denning did.

The People’s Judge

It is well-known, and often criticised at law schools, that Lord Denning cut through precedent in the name of justice and fairness. This goes against our instincts as lawyers, but his pursuit of justice is what made him a great judge, the “People’s Judge”. Some of his judgments, though overturned on appeal, were even picked up by Parliament and became statute – because justice is what he sought.

Not only did he do justice, but he ensured justice could be understood. Lord Denning wrote judgments in a clear and concise manner. His judgments make for enjoyable reading because of their simplicity.

In coming upon legal obstacles, it is not enough to keep your law books dry. It is as well to have a Bible ready to hand too. It is the most tattered book in my library. I have drawn upon it constantly.Citation

When he died in 1999, aged 100, public figures spoke highly of him:Citation

“Lord Denning was the best-known and best-loved judge of this, or perhaps any, generation. He was a legend in his own lifetime. His memory will be cherished by his countless friends on the Bench, at the Bar and among the wider public throughout the Commonwealth.”

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Bingham

“Lord Denning was probably the greatest English judge of modern times. He combined a love of liberty with a passion for justice. His life and work will provide inspiration for generations to come.”
Margaret Thatcher

“His judgments were a model of lucidity. He was prepared to use the law for its true purpose – in the interests of fairness and justice. He had a tremendous feel for ordinary people.”
Tony Blair

Lord Denning’s Legacy

Lord Denning was President of The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship from 1950 to 1987, after which he became a patron until his death.

As Christians lawyers, it can be easy to feel timid or that we cannot speak. But Lord Denning sets an example of being unashamed in public about his Christian faith.

In the Influence of Religion on Law, he outlines his views about how his Christian faith fed into his work:

It is I suggest to you, a most significant thing that a great judge should draw his principles of law, or rather his principles of justice, from the Christian commandment of love. I do not know where else he is to find them… The Common law of England has been moulded for centuries by Judges who have been brought up in the Christian faith. The precepts of religion, consciously or unconsciously, have been their guide in the administration of justice.Citation

And he boldly proclaimed:

If religion perishes in the land, truth and justice will also. We have already strayed too far from the path of our fathers. Let us return to it, for it is the only thing that can save us.Citation

Lord Denning’s example encourages us to pray that God will continue to raise up judges who prioritise justice, and fairness for all. At such a time as this, let us also heed Lord Denning’s warnings and God’s direction to seek justice, and only justice, in all that we do as Christian lawyers.