Alistair MacDonald

This article is about the British judge. For people by the same name, see Alastair McDonald (disambiguation).

The Honourable
Mr Justice MacDonald
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
Justice of the High Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 June 2015
Personal details
Born
Alistair William Orchard MacDonald

(1970-02-22) 22 February 1970 (age 54)
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
SpousePenelope MacDonald
ResidenceBirmingham
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
City University
OccupationJudge
Barrister
Queen's Counsel

Sir Alistair William Orchard MacDonald (born 22 February 1970),[1] styled The Hon. Mr Justice MacDonald, has been a judge in the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales since 2 June 2015.[a] As a barrister he specialised in child protection.[2][3][4][5][6]

Career

MacDonald received a BA in Archaeology from the University of Nottingham and worked as an archaeologist for three years, without obtaining grant funding for an offered Ph.D. position.[7] He then obtained a Diploma in Law from City University.[8]

MacDonald was called to the bar in 1995 and undertook pupillage at Priory Chambers, 2 Fountain Court. In 2008 he won Barrister of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards,[9] and later that year appeared on the BBC television series Barristers.[7]

He became a Recorder in 2009, and QC in 2011.[10] He practised in family law, particularly the rights of children.[2] He was co-chairman of the Association of Lawyers for Children, speaking out against reductions in legal aid[11][12] increases in court fees for local authorities,[13] and a reduction of family law barrister fees.[14] He is on the board of the journal Child and Family Law Quarterly.[2]

He was made a Knight Bachelor on 10 November 2015.[15]

The case of Alta Fixsler, a two year old Haredi girl from Manchester, England who was placed on a ventilator after a severe brain injury came before MacDonald. The case drew international attention after MacDonald ruled on May 21, 2021 that her life support be withdrawn.[16]

Works

  • MacDonald, Alistair (March 2011). The Rights of the Child – Law and Practice. Jordan Publishing. ISBN 9781846612107.

New Law Journal said "This book is the reference work for the family advocate who wishes to use the CRC on behalf of the children they represent."[17]

Notes

  1. ^ There is another Alistair MacDonald QC who was chair of the Bar Council in 2015.

References

  1. ^ "Senior judiciary". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Mueller, Matthias (22 May 2015). "Alistair MacDonald QC appointed a Justice of the High Court". Family Law. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Legal row over seriously ill girl's UK to Israel move". BBC News. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Why we should do everything to save 2-year-old Alta Fixsler - comment". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. ^ McGurn, William (9 August 2021). "Opinion | Let Alta Fixsler Go". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Brit Baby's Death Ruled Better Than Small Chance of Living — Again". National Review. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Birmingham lawyer to star on reality TV show". Birmingham Post. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Alistair MacDonald QC". The Legal 500. Archived from the original on 6 September 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Hammonds boss wins Birmingham Law Society award". Birmingham Post. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Birmingham barristers sworn in as QCs". Birmingham Post. 14 April 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Children lawyers slam legal aid reforms". Solicitors Journal. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  12. ^ Unity Sale, Anabel (27 June 2007). "How changes in legal aid rules will affect social care clients". Community Care. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  13. ^ Rothwell, Rachel (16 April 2008). "Huge fee hike raises fears of more child deaths". Law Gazette. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  14. ^ Baksi, Catherine (16 May 2008). "Family barrister 'exodus' fears". Law Gazette. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  15. ^ "No. 61406". The London Gazette. 10 November 2015. p. 22094.
  16. ^ staff, T. O. I. "British court rules brain-damaged Jewish girl's life support can be withdrawn". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  17. ^ "The Rights of the Child: Law and Practice". New Law Journal. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2015.