Lionel Leach

Sir Alfred Henry Lionel Leach, (3 February 1883 – 26 January 1960) was a British barrister and judge who served as a judge of the Rangoon High Court from 1933 to 1937, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court from 1937 to 1947 and a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council from 1949 to 1960.

Early life and education

Lionel Leach was born on 3 February 1883 in Rochdale, the son of barrister Robert Alfred Leach. After being educated privately, Lionel Leach was called to the bar in 1907 by Gray's Inn. He was later elected a bencher of the Inn 1949. In 1949, Leach was one of five former judges in India and Burma to be appointed King's Counsel in a special list, "so that advantage may be taken of their judicial experience for the purpose of obtaining their help at Assizes when required". He was duly appointed a Commissioner of Assize on the North-Eastern Circuit. There were usually two members of the Judicial Committee from India; but one was absent at the time, and Leach's services were required to clear the backlog of Indian appeals, which ceased when Indian became a republic soon after.

Leach headed the Singapore Riots Inquiry Commission of 1951 that made recommendations after the Maria Hertogh riots. He was appointed by Governor Sir Franklin Gimson.

Death

Lionel Leach died in his chambers at Gray's Inn Square on 26 January 1960 at the age of 76. A requiem mass for him was celebrated at Farm Street Church on 30 January 1960.

Family Leach married in 1908 Sophia Hedwig Kiel (died 1954), daughter of Prof Dr Heinrich August Kiel, of Bonn, Germany. They had one son, Lieutenant-Colonel Lionel Robert Henry Gerald Leach, MC.