William Babington (jurist)

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Sir William Babington (d. 1455) was an English lawyer and judge hailing from an old Northumbrian noble family.

In 1414, Babington was made a King's Attorney. Three years later, an act of parliament compelled him to accept the title of Serjeant-at-law, which he originally refused due to the expensive inauguration ceremony it required. Rising rapidly through government offices, in 1419 he was made Chief Baron of the Exchequer, the head judge of the jurisdiction exercised by the Exchequer.

Babington was named a Justice of the Common Bench in 1420. He presided this court as its Chief Justice from 1423 until his retirement in 1436.

[edit] Reference

• Sossna, Ralf Peter (2001). "Sir William Babington", in Michael Stolleis (ed.): Juristen: ein biographisches Lexikon; von der Antike bis zum 20. Jahrhundert, 2nd edition (in German), München: Beck, 55. ISBN 3406 45957 9.