James Stuart-Smith

James Stuart-Smith, (13 September 1919 – 15 May 2013) was a British judge and British Army officer. He served as Judge Advocate General from 1984 to 1991.

Early life Stuart-Smith was born on 13 September 1919 in Brighton, Sussex, England. From 1933 to 1938, he was educated at Brighton College, an independent school in Brighton. He went on to study medicine at the London Hospital;

Career

Military service On 14 January 1940, Stuart-Smith was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps, British Army, with the rank of second lieutenant. He was given the service number 113640. In 1946, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. On 16 April 1985, he was appointed a Recorder. He retired in 1991, having served as a military judge for 36 years and holding every appointment from the lowest to the highest.

In addition to his career as a military judge, Stuart-Smith was involved with the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War, serving as its vice-president from 1979 to 1985 and its president from 1985 to 1991. He was then made its honorary president, a title he held from 1991 until his death.

Personal life In 1957, Stuart-Smith married Jean Groundsell. Together they had two children; a son and a daughter. His wife predeceased him.

Stuart-Smith died on 15 May 2013.

Honours Stuart-Smith was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1986 Birthday Honours. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1988.