Albania honours Sir Henry Brooke CMG for services to justice reform

The Republic of Albania has awarded former Court of Appeal judge Sir Henry Brooke its highest honour for a non-citizen, Knight of the Order of Scanderbeg, for his contributions to reform of the Albanian justice system.

At a ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, today, the president of the Republic of Albania, Bujar Nishani, presented the award which represents Scanderbeg, Albania’s national hero.

The award has seldom previously been conferred on a British citizen and never on a British judge.

Sir Henry retired as vice president of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal in 2006. Between 1998 and 2015 he was president of the Slynn Foundation, a charity set up to support young lawyers in central and eastern Europe.

During 18 visits to Tirana, Albania’s capital, between 2010 and 2016, Sir Henry directed the Slynn Foundation to: assist in the reform of the law and practice of the nation’s Supreme Court; deliver judicial training courses and other technical assistance at the Albanian Magistrates’ School; and enhance the arrangements for discipline and training at the Albanian Bar.

In 2012, Sir Henry was awarded the CMG for his services to justice reform in Albania.

The Lord Chief Justice was represented at the award ceremony by Sir Stephen Silber.