Two high school students have been handed rare internships at Liverpool Crown Court in memory of a much-loved judge.
Sir David Maddison served as a circuit judge at the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts between 1992 and 2003, when he became the Honorary Recorder of Manchester. He served as a High Court judge from 2008 - the year in which he was also knighted - until his retirement in 2012, but continued to sit in the Court of Appeal until 2017.
The ardent Liverpool FC fan died in 2019 at the age of 72. Earlier this year, the Maddison Internship - which will see youngsters shadow various members of staff across the building to get a full flavour of the court system - was set up in his name in partnership with Everton in the Community and the Anthony Walker Foundation.
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The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC, Judge David Aubrey KC, Judge Louise Brandon, former High Sheriff of Merseyside Deputy Lieutenant David Steer KC, Everton in the Community chief executive Sue Gregory, ex-Toffees star Graham Stuart and Sir David's widow Lady Indira Maddison were present during a courtroom ceremony this week as the Charlotte Gallagher and Lottie Coughlin were named as the first two winners. They were among five finalists who were whittled down from an initial 46 contenders from six schools across the city.
Judge Aubrey told the assembled dignitaries, pupils and their families that "everybody who participated was a winner". He also said of Judge Maddison: "He was a superb barrister, and perhaps an even a better judge.
"He accomplished so much, humble and modest with it. It is fitting we should be in this court now - it was his court when he sat in Liverpool before moving on to greater things.
"Shortly after David's death, Judge Brandon and I were determined to set up this internship in his memory. We were thwarted by covid and lockdown, but thereafter able to progress."
Judge Aubrey said that the new annual competition - the stages of which covered topics including knife crime and racism - will provide youngsters an "exciting chance to be introduced to the criminal justice system". Only one internship was initially up for grabs, but both girls were ultimately accepted as "we simply could not choose between the two".
Retired barrister Mr Steer added of Judge Maddison that he had "looked up to him greatly", saying: "He was one of the nicest men you could ever wish to meet. He wasn't only a good lawyer, he wasn't only honest and true - he was a thoroughly nice man, and if he was here today I guarantee you would have liked him and he would have inspired you."
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