When I started law school, I could not have told you the difference between a barrister and solicitor, and I was perplexed why all the judges’ initials were ‘J’. For some reason, I thought it was absurd that there was an Act called the Acts Interpretation Act. I was contemptuous but nonetheless attracted to the English nonsense of Lord Keith of Kinkel, Lord Jauncey of Tullichettle, Lord Morris of Borth-y-Gest, and Lord Brandon of Oakbrook (I was ignorant of the existence of Lord Salmon of Sandwich). But until I read this very English article in that very English paper, The Times, I thought that it had been thus since time immemorial. In fact, these geographical curlicues are a modern affectation. There was no Lord Denning of Dover, Lord Diplock of Wigan, Lord Reid of the Rock of Gibraltar, or Lord Wilberforce of Land’s End. Even today, not all law lords use a place in their title. More strength to them.
