Brian Leveson

Brian Henry Leveson, Baron Leveson of Liverpool ( ; born 22 June 1949) is an English retired senior judge who is the current Investigatory Powers Commissioner, having previously served as the President of the Queen's Bench Division and Head of Criminal Justice.

Leveson chaired the public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press, prompted by the News of the World phone hacking affair.

Early life Leveson was born in Liverpool on 22 June 1949 to a Jewish family. He was educated at Liverpool College, a then public school in Mossley Hill, Liverpool. He studied at Merton College, Oxford and was President of the Oxford Law Society.

Legal career Leveson was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1970. He initially practised in Liverpool and became Queen's Counsel in 1986. Leveson became a bencher in 1995, He was promoted to Senior Presiding Judge with effect from 1 January 2007.

On 1 October 2013, Leveson was appointed President of the Queen's Bench Division, succeeding Sir John Thomas.

He was Treasurer of Middle Temple in 2020.

Notable cases R v West (Rosemary Pauline) Leveson was the lead prosecution counsel during the trial of Rosemary West (Regina v West), who went on to be convicted for the murders of ten young women, including her own eldest daughter, in November 1995. West was sentenced to Life in Prison with a whole life order imposed.

Lord Justice of Appeal In November 2007, the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal, constituted by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, Leveson and Mr Justice Simon, quashed the conviction of Barry George and ordered a retrial in relation to the murder in 2001 of BBC presenter Jill Dando.

He was one of three judges who heard an appeal in 2013 by several men who had admitted terrorist offences. One of them, Usman Khan, whose sentence was as a result changed from an "indeterminate sentence" to a "determinate term" of 16 years imprisonment, later committed the 2019 London Bridge stabbing.

Prosecution of comedian Ken Dodd for tax evasion In 1989 Leveson was the lead prosecution counsel at the trial of comedian Ken Dodd. Dodd was charged with tax evasion, but was subsequently acquitted at Liverpool Crown Court, despite seemingly strong evidence.

Other notable cases While sitting with Lord Justice Mantell In the Court of Appeal in 2002 under the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, he upheld the murder conviction of James Hanratty. He also presided over the trial of ex-US Marine Toby Studebaker for charges relating to child grooming over the internet. He sentenced 100-year-old Bernard Heginbotham, who was found guilty of manslaughter of his wife of 67 years, 87-year-old Ida, to a 12-month rehabilitation order. He also presided over the trial of two men who were found guilty in 2005 of murdering Anthony Walker with an axe.

Press ethics inquiry and News International phone hacking scandal

It was announced on 13 July 2011 that Leveson would lead the public inquiry into issues of British press culture, practices and ethics raised by the News International phone hacking scandal.

The hearings began on Monday 14 November 2011. The full report was published on 29 November 2012 and is available online.

Later career In 2013 Leveson was appointed as Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University, taking over from Brian May, who stepped down at the end of his term.

In 2019, Leveson was appointed as the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, re-appointed for a further three-year term in October 2022, and again for a further three-year term in October 2025.

In December 2024, Leveson was appointed by the Lord Chancellor to carry out an independent review of the criminal courts. Part 1 of the report, covering reform of the courts, was published in July 2025, and part 2, covering efficiency, was published in February 2026.

Personal life Leveson has a wife, Lynne (daughter of Aubrey Fishel, also from Liverpool). The couple have three children.

Honours In 1986, Leveson took silk and was appointed Queen's Counsel granting him the Suffix of 'QC', upon appointment as a Judge the suffix was no longer used.

Leveson was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 2001, by Queen Elizabeth II granting him the title of 'Sir'. In 2006 Leveson was sworn as a Privy Counsellor which grants him the Style 'The Right Honourable' for life.

The Prime Minister's Office announced on 16 July 2026 that Leveson is to be made a crossbench peer.