Sir John Leonard Stone, OBE, QC (6 November 1896 – 3 January 1978) was the last British chief justice of the High Court of Bombay, serving from 30 September 1943 until 1948. Educated at Malvern College, he served in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and in the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922. Called to the bar at

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and W ...

in 1923, he joined the Lincoln's Inn Bar in 1931, becoming a

Bencher A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales or the Inns of Court in Northern Ireland, or the Honorable Society of King's Inns in Ireland. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher ca ...

of Gray's Inn in 1942 and its treasurer in 1956. He served in the

British Home Guard The Home Guard (initially Local Defence Volunteers or LDV) was an armed citizen militia supporting the British Army during the Second World War. Operational from 1940 to 1944, the Home Guard had 1.5 million local volunteers otherwise ineligible f ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, until 1943, when he was appointed Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. He was appointed an OBE in the

1943 New Year Honours The 1943 New Year Honours were appointments by King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the United Kingdom and British Empire. They were announced on 29 December 1942.United Kingdom (additiona ...

(citing his Home Guard service) and knighted in the

1943 Birthday Honours The King's Birthday Honours 1943 were appointments by King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by people of the British Empire. They were published on 2 June 1943 for the United Kingdom and Canada. The re ...

. He was appointed a King's Counsel in 1948. He subsequently served as

Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster The Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster is an office of the Duchy of Lancaster. The vice-chancellor is appointed by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster after consultation with the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. Since 19 ...

from 1948 to 1963.

References

Chief Justice Sir Leonard Stone - from the Bombay High Court website
*''Who's Who'', A&C Black, 1977–1978 1896 births 1978 deaths Members of Gray's Inn Members of Lincoln's Inn Knights Bachelor Officers of the Order of the British Empire Chief Justices of the Bombay High Court British India judges People educated at Malvern College British people in colonial India King's Counsel {{UK-law-bio-stub

See also

References