Frederick Geoffrey Lawrence

Sir Geoffrey Lawrence
Sir Geoffrey Lawrence
	Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
Justice of the High Court
	In office; 1965–1967
Personal details
Nationality	British

Sir Frederick Geoffrey Lawrence (5 April 1902 – 3 February 1967) was a British lawyer, High Court Judge, Chairman of the Bar Council and Chairman of the National Incomes Commission.^[1] He first came to prominence when he defended Dr John Bodkin Adams in 1957 on a charge of the murder of Mrs Edith Alice Morrell, the first murder case he handled.^[1] Prejudicial press coverage of the case prior to the trial suggested Adams was guilty and that the verdict would be a foregone conclusion, but Lawrence successfully secured an acquittal.^[2] Adams, if convicted, might have been hanged, had he also been found guilty on a second murder indictment that had been brought.^[2] Devlin at the time, and later investigation, suggested Adams was acquitted in part due to inadequate prosecution preparations and also due to the lack of strong and credible evidence.

^ ^a ^b Cullen, Pamela V., A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams London, Elliott & Thompson, 2006, ISBN 1-904027-19-9
^ ^a ^b Devlin, Patrick. Easing the passing: The trial of Doctor John Bodkin Adams, London, The Bodley Head, 1985.

[Cullen-1] Cullen, Pamela V., A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams London, Elliott & Thompson, 2006, ISBN 1-904027-19-9

[Devlin-2] Devlin, Patrick. Easing the passing: The trial of Doctor John Bodkin Adams, London, The Bodley Head, 1985.

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Sir Geoffrey Lawrence
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom

Justice of the High Court
In office 1965–1967

Personal details
Nationality	British