Thompson Coburn partner and past President of the American Bar Association William Bay has been elected as an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in London. The ceremony took place in Middle Temple Hall, a venue with a rich cultural history: It was built in 1570, and Shakespeare performed there.
The Middle Temple is one of the four historic Inns of Court in London that have the exclusive right to call students to the Bar. The Bar is the specialist profession of barristers, who have been providing expert legal advice and using advocacy skills to represent clients in court since the 13th century. They are the professional bodies that educate, support, and “call” barristers, or current law students, to the English Bar. Led by its Masters—referred to as Benchers—the Inn derives its leadership from senior figures of the bar and judiciary.
In addition to ordinary benchers, the Inn also elects Honorary Masters of the Bench, distinguished individuals from other walks of life who have excelled in their professions. Bill joins a select and globally recognized group of legal leaders honored by the Middle Temple, including senior jurists, prominent advocates, and notable public figures. Honorary Benchers come from a range of professions. Current Honorary Benchers include Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court John G. Roberts Jr. and former British Prime Ministers David Cameron and John Major. The Inn has one Royal Bencher, His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales.
Middle Temple Benchers from the United States have included, in addition to Chief Justice Roberts, William Howard Taft, Warren E. Burger, William H. Rehnquist, several American Ambassadors to the Court of St. James, and former Attorney Generals Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch.
Sir Walter Raleigh and the great English legal scholar William Blackstone also were Benchers. Five members of Middle Temple signed the Declaration of Independence; seven were signatories to the United States Constitution.
The core purposes of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in London are still based on the principles set out in the Royal Charter of 1608. These include excellence in advocacy, education and training of barristers, promotion of diversity and access to the Bar through financial support, and the maintenance of the highest professional standards in the public interest.
Bill’s election to the Bench reflects these traditions and his exceptional leadership, integrity, and longstanding contributions to the legal profession.
