Ernest Charles (judge)

Sir Ernest Bruce Charles,

Ernest Charles was the son of the High Court judge Sir Arthur Charles. He was educated at Clifton College and New College, Oxford, where he read Jurisprudence. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1896, and acquired a large general practice on the Western Circuit and in London. He was appointed a King's Counsel in 1913 and became a Bencher of his Inn in 1922.

Although he was above military age, on the outbreak of the

Returning to the Bar after the war, Charles once again built up a large practice, chiefly before juries. In 1923, he defended

Charles was Recorder of Bournemouth from 1915 to 1924 and Recorder of Southampton from 1924 to 1928. He was appointed a Justice of the High Court on 17 February 1928, and was assigned to the King's Bench Division, receiving the customary knighthood. In 1945, he tried U. S. Army deserver Karl Hultén and waitress Elizabeth Jones for the Cleft chin murder. He retired on 5 April 1947.

Like his father, Charles had an interest in ecclesiastical law. He was

He was a noted local philanthropist in Deal, who helped to establish the local rowing and football clubs. The football ground and two streets in the town are named after him. A blue plaque in his honour was unveiled in 2018.^[1]

References

External links

• Portraits of Sir Ernest Bruce Charles at the National Portrait Gallery, London