British judge
Sir Alistair William Orchard MacDonald (born 22 February 1970),[1] styled The Hon. Mr Justice MacDonald, has been a judge in the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales since 2 June 2015.[a] As a barrister he specialised in child protection.[2][3][4][5][6]
Career
MacDonald received a BA in Archaeology from the University of Nottingham and worked as an archaeologist for three years, without obtaining grant funding for an offered Ph.D. position.[7] He then obtained a Diploma in Law from City University.[8]
MacDonald was called to the bar in 1995 and undertook pupillage at Priory Chambers, 2 Fountain Court. In 2008 he won Barrister of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards,[9] and later that year appeared on the BBC television series Barristers.[7]
He became a Recorder in 2009, and QC in 2011.[10] He practised in family law, particularly the rights of children.[2] He was co-chairman of the Association of Lawyers for Children, speaking out against reductions in legal aid[11][12] increases in court fees for local authorities,[13] and a reduction of family law barrister fees.[14] He is on the board of the journal Child and Family Law Quarterly.[2]
He was made a Knight Bachelor on 10 November 2015.[15]
The case of Alta Fixsler, a two year old Haredi girl from Manchester, England who was placed on a ventilator after a severe brain injury came before MacDonald. The case drew international attention after MacDonald ruled on May 21, 2021 that her life support be withdrawn.[16]
Works
New Law Journal said "This book is the reference work for the family advocate who wishes to use the CRC on behalf of the children they represent."[17]
Notes
- ^ There is another Alistair MacDonald QC who was chair of the Bar Council in 2015.
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