Is there a central data base for court cases?

[Lemonyfire]

Hello
I'll try and keep it brief, my dad is turning 80 and spent nearly 5 decades as a barrister.
I would like to get him a memory book made including pictures of him throughout the years in his wig/gown, qualifications etc and vague details / excerpts from cases he has done.
I've managed to get a few from local news sites that published over the years but limited. I just wondered if there is anywhere else I can publicly access a list of cases he has prosecuted/ defended? Not for details of the case but just dates etc.

Would appreciate any advice!

Would there still be any records in chambers of his cases?

@Bromptotoo that's a good shout I could contact them and try!

I was going to say most Chambers tend to keep "scrapbooks" of publicity about cases including the really unflattering picture of my friend with her wig askew having a sneaky fag round the corner from the RCJ that was in The Sun!!

@Spirallingdownwards this is so great! I didn't even think to ask his Chambers thanks so much for this tip both of you 😃

You could try searching his name in Bailii if he's had any reportable cases he may be named as representing (though assuming he is Criminal I think this would likely be any Court of Appeal cases)

https://www.bailii.org/

Otherwise have you tried local newspaper archives for older cases?

I thought that too. I don't think it would work for Crown Court or Magistrates cases. Although courts record 'appearances' they never formed part of the court's register of cases.

@Rosecoffeecup I did try this but it didn't come up, most of his cases were crown court. He was a criminal barrister, some old Bailey cases but that was a long time ago.

Newspaper archives is my next step, but within his circuit he was all over the country! He was also a recorder so sat as a judge 6 weeks a year. By googling his name + x crown court I have come up with about 7/8 online articles.

I have emailed his chambers and hope they will be able to point me to.
I've got my son to say for his homework he has to ask about his career and he is digging out old photos so that will pad it out at least 😂
Sorry of I've missed so many obvious solutions- I work in Healthcare this is so far out of my area of knowledge!

I'd try a few more key word searches with quotation marks in Google as that might find some additional articles... e.g. "name" with "cps" "prosecuting" "counsel" etc

Good luck, I love doing things like this

I know from having spoken to the COPFS that record of old Scottish trials go to the National Library of Scotland after so many years (can't remember the exact interval but I was after FAI stuff from the 80s).

Contact the CPS and see if they have a similar arrangement.