Brilliant Tudor!
Sincere congratulations on such an achievement.
Will be in contact via other means.
RETDPI

A Circuit Judge? Does that mean that FL is now sentencing people for overtaking under yellow? ;)

No doubt a gain for Snaresbrook Crown Court London, yet a loss for PPRuNe...

Wonder if he celebrated with a glass of legalade?

Congrats Tudor - from a newly appointed member of the part time judiciary!

We shared a beer some 4 or 5 years ago at the Old Bank of England.

A2

I too wish FL well in his new role, but am filled with deep regret that he will no longer be able to act in defence of those aviators that will found themselves in the courts in future, as he has done in such a distinguished way for so long.

His loss as a highly respected defender of those who participate in our chosen interest will be very deeply felt by some, including me and a particular acquaintance.

My hope is that there are more like him, with a similar firm commitment to seeing the law applied wisely, fairly and in the public interest in the sphere of aviation that will rise up to take his place.

Tudor, if you are reading this, as I am sure you must be, then please accept my heartfelt thanks for all you have done.

VP

PS: I hope that you've still given up the smokes, too - you know it makes sense.............

Wow! What an achievement. I am in awe... Congratulations your honor! :ooh:

Monk

Congratulations on your recent appointment

MP;)

Hi Tudor
We communicated in regard to Chas N. and I thank you again for yr advise/info in that regard. I would like to publicly express my happiness in learning of your recent appointment and offer my sincere congratulations. I fail to see why your erudite contributions to these fora cannot be continued, but maybe I am missing something. Doesn't everybody have freedom of speech!!?;)

congrats m'lud
 

Thank you for your assistance in the past.
Your personal offer of help was very reassuring
well done and best wishes:ok:

Why does the term "circuit judge" bring up visions of a man in a funny wig and tights, sitting in a deckchair with a pair of binoculars somewhere under the downwind leg of an airport, checking the quality of the flying overhead?

FL
Great news. You probably know that for £10 pounds you can change your surname by deedpoll to 'Pickles':} Off with his head!!

Thank you for your calm and measured approach
 

I first came into contact with FL during the discussion about pilots who were in trouble drinking. To be more specific, I was the first airline pilot ever arrested and sent to prison for having flown a commercial airliner while impaired (drunk) and I submitted a fairly open and naked account of that event. That event became known as "The Flight 650 Incident" and occurred on March 8, 1990.

After having gone broke, shamed and disgraced nationally and internationally, my sobriety eventually allowed me to return to flying some years later...as the President and CEO of my airline reinstated me to full flight status. He took an enormous risk and gamble on me - and I did my best to vindicate him for doing so. I retired honorably as a 747 captain a few years later.

I am a recovering alcoholic although I didn't know it until my event occurred...which ultimately saved my life and opened the door for recovery and some (now) seventeen and a half years of sober living and a new and wonderful life.

In the aftermath of it all, I've had the wonderful opportunity to work with nearly all of the major carriers in America as they implemented their own programs for recovering pilots. I continue to work with those struggling, both in aviation and out, and I've been blessed with those opportunities.

In the midst of some rather hot and volatile comments on this topic, which were more of an emotional and visceral reaction than studied and informed input, FL's comments were always those of a level and reasoned observation.

So it's no surprise to me that someone of his caliber is appointed to the bench and I believe it is to the advantage of the system itself that this appointment takes place.

Congratulations to you, Tudor, and may the hand of justice always be tempered with mercy and compassion - even as those of us who transgress accept responsibility for having done so and acknowledge our willingness to deal with our consequences.

All the best to you, sir.

Blue skies,
Lyle Prouse
Retired Northwest Airlines Captain, former US Marine Corps captain and Vietnam vet...and former federal prison inmate.

Just another "thank you" to Flying Lawyer for his contributions to Pprune.

For better or worse, Pprune is the public face of aviation in the UK. Your presence here has provided an underpinning of common sense, good humour, proportion and reality, Such things are at a premium anywhere, in the legal side of the game doubly so.

Selfishly, I look forward to the day when you hang up the robes and can return to the fray online. For the sake of the judiciary and the realm, may that day be a long way off.

If I ever find myself in your court and I've done nothing wrong, I'll be very pleased to see you... otherwise, I'll bring my toothbrush.

R

Do you still wear those funny wigs? .... And as a judge, you get a longer wig? Or just other curls? How many times you change the wig in a career? Has the number of curls anything to say about the status? Can you buy them at Harrods’s?
I can't help it, but I watched Rumpole once in a while, when I still lived in a more civilized part of the world and I always found those wigs funny. And since TaB said that Rumpole is rather accurate, you guys must have a hell of a time ....
... ah, ok you don't .... you mean that is rather serious ... and elsewhere lawyers and judges lack credibility due to not wearing a proper outfit ... and stiff upper lip and all that…
:=
:}

Rotorbee

Do you still wear those funny wigs?
Yes, but for how much longer I don't know. I think they'll disappear in civil cases very soon, and in criminal cases in the foreseeable future.
On balance, I favour keeping them but no longer hold strong views about it.

And as a judge, you get a longer wig?
Yes, but they are worn on ceremonial occasions only.
A judge's 'working' wig is similar to a barrister's wig.

Or just other curls?
All my other curls grew naturally.

How many times you change the wig in a career?
Never, unless you become a judge. (Or unless, as in my case, some thieving git steals your wig as a souvenir.)

Has the number of curls anything to say about the status?
I suppose so, in that judges' ceremonial wigs are long (shoulder-length.) However, IMHO, earning respect when doing a job is much more important than the 'status' that comes with it.
The colour of a wig (judge or Bar) is a good indication of experience - unless he/she bought it second-hand(head). They are made of white horse-hair and go darker with age.

Can you buy them at Harrods?
Not as far as I know.

I always found those wigs funny.
I can understand that, but the Brits love tradition and, contrary to the belief of those keen to abolish wigs (including some judges and barristers), most court users of all categories appear to like them.

TaB said that Rumpole is rather accurate.
I think TaB meant the barrister/judge hierarchy.

You guys must have a hell of a time.
I've enjoyed being a barrister (apart from the ridiculous hours), and hope I'll enjoy being a judge as much.

Elsewhere lawyers and judges lack credibility due to not wearing a proper outfit.
That's not my opinion, nor that of anyone I know.
See above under British love of tradition.



Tudor

Congrats. It's nice to be recognised by one's peers.

Still got your bike?

Congrats me Lud!!
 

Hello Tudor,

I did post earlier but seems to have 'gawn your honour' :D

Anyways very well done! The Snaresbrook area my now be a safer place! I know the place very well from my younger days with The London Fire Brigade, also growing up in Dagenham, please don't hold that against me. A bit of a commute for to work I assume too. I wish you very well in your new carreer, very well done :D:D:D:D
Darren

Flying Lawyer
 

May I join our ppruners in congratulating Tudor Owen.

Akin to making AVM rank at least I imagine.

On a personal basis I met Tudor professionally on just two occasions and all I can say is his presence in a maelstrom of turbulent water was a most welcome sea of calm.

Feeling overwhelmed by a list of CAA charges arising from a simple violation ... Tudor Owen's advice cut through to the essence of a successful defence in an instant, and I'd like him to know his support lifted a massive weight from my mind at a difficult time.

Thank you Tudor and God bless you Sir.

Dennis Kenyon.

ca, t

I have just noticed this thread. Congratulations Judge. Your posts on PPRuNe will be very much missed.

Flying Lawyer's New Work Outfit
 

Judge Tudor Owen

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...hambers600.jpg
Day to day robes worn in the Crown Court

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ic/SwornIn.jpg
Being Sworn In (ceremonial dress and full wig) - note the glass!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...arrant_600.jpg
With Royal Warrant (also ceremonial dress)

I have posted these to reassure anyone from the CAA who reads this that Tudor Owen really has given up defence work!