Background
Cairns was a son of David Cairns Justice of the Peace, a Freeman of Sunderland and Sarah Scott Cairns.
Cairns was a son of David Cairns Justice of the Peace, a Freeman of Sunderland and Sarah Scott Cairns.
He was educated at Bede Grammar School for Boys, Sunderland and Pembroke College, Cambridge.
Rt. Honorary
He was knighted in 1955. He was Liberal candidate for the Epsom division of Surrey at the Epsom by-election, 1947. He did not stand for parliament again.
However, the following year he was elected to Leatherhead Urban District Council.
He served for two three-year terms. He was also actively involved inside the Liberal Party on policy development.
From 1948-1949 he was Chairman of the Liberal Party Commission on Trade Unions. Cairns was Chairman of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission.
He was Lord Justice of Appeal from 1970-1977.
He presided over a number of notable enquieries and cases;
Exxon Corporation v Exxon Insurance Consultants International Limited
Re Gray"s Inn Construction Company Limited
1953 Nutts Corner Bureau of Economic Analysis Vickers Viking accident
Stonegate Securities Limited v Gregory
Nethermere (Street Neots) Limited v Gardiner.
He was made a member of the Privy Council in 1970. From 1951-1953 he was a member of the Liberal Party Committee.