Kings Bench Chambers

Graham Cooke - Head of Chambers

Call	1983
Practice	Civil Crime Family

He was a member of Justice “Miscarriages of Justice” committee in mid-eighties. Carried out pro bono case work for Justice. He was a Member of Justice delegation giving evidence to Royal Commission and of a working party to set up the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

He has been involved in DNA cases from the early 1990’s and is the author of DNA chapter in Rook and Ward’s Sexual Offences (2nd and 3rd Editions) and articles on DNA in the Times and in Archbold News. He is the author of articles in Archbold News on Select Committee report, DNA, fingerprints, identification, parade procedures, “case to answer.” PII, conflict of interest in graduated fees and difficulties in representing more than one Defendant in a criminal trial.

He was a Speaker at College of Physicians Conference (1994), Royal Society of Edinburgh Conference (1998) and Expert Witness Institute Conferences (2001) and (2003) and the Criminal Bar Association conference (2004) on the Sexual Offence Act 2003.
He gave evidence to the Western Australia Parliamentary Committee on DNA matters.

He is a founder member of an informal group set up to deal with DNA and related issues. The Group includes the judiciary, scientists from FSS, LGO and Forensic Alliance, CPS, CBA, Database Custodian, CRFF, (2004 onwards).

He was the representative of Criminal Bar Association on the working party on the new approach to fingerprint evidence (2000/2001). 
External examiner to Inns of Court School of Law and City University for criminal advocacy and ethics (2001-2004).
He was the legal assessor to General Medical Council (2002/3) and a member of the Bar Council’s Committee on Forensic Accounting.
He is a Senior Tutor in advocacy in Lincoln’s Inn.
He gave evidence on behalf of the Bar Council to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (2005)
Member of Home Office group responding to the Select Committee concerns (2005)
He gave a lecture with HHJ Thorpe to Criminal Cases Review Commission (2006) after which he gave a talk on behalf of the Bar Council about expert evidence and the English and Welsh trial system to a delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Justice (2006)
Joined the Nuffield Council on Bio-Ethics Working Party on the “Forensic uses of bio-information” (June 2006).

Joined the Royal Statistical Society Working Group on "Presenting Statistical Evidence in Court" in 2007.

Joined Law Commission Working Group on the admissibility of expert evidence in 2008

2009 Member of The Inn's Conduct Committee

CASES OF INTEREST
R v Flynn (unanimity of jury on two bases of offensive weapon charge.
DPP v Monro (Case state; basis of guilty plea on committal to Crown Court for sentence.)
R v Enwezar (Drug trafficking hearing “burden and standard of proof.)
R v McGranaghan (A “miscarriage” case where vital scientific evidence lay unused.)
R v Barnes (A “similar fact evidence” case re eight different attacks where ID was in issue.)
R v Inner London CC ex parte Barnes – Judicial Review re raising of Reporting Restrictions
on young offender.
R v Field – Section 18/S20 indictment (and other) issues.
R v Baverstock – In the first batch of appeals interpreting the 1991 sentencing Act.
R v Barsoum - (A “miscarriage” case where the conduct of the trial (not mine) was much
criticised; cross examination on previous convictions.
R v Albarus and James – Unofficial jury “view”
R v Doheny and Adams – Guideline DNA case
R v Reid CA – Court of Appeal on “recklessness” in death by reckless; question certified for
H of L.
R v Reid HL – Led, but dealt with law of recklessness in all foreign jurisdictions“
R v B Sentencing under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933; new point taken successfully
R v Mashaollahi – Class A guideline case on opium; it was the first case to be referred to the Sentencing Panel.
R v Ely Justices ex parte Burgess – JR re defendant’s absence from “view” and prosecution travelling with justices.
R v Alvez – Unjustified pressure on defendant by judicial behaviour. R.v.Sutton - judge wrong to insist on defence psychiatric expert being the first witness in the trial.

INTERESTS

Bridge, collecting antiques and studio pottery and glass.

10-11 Basepoint Business Centre, Aviation Business Park, Enterprise Close, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6NX