His grandfather and namesake, James Keith (17 April 1825 - 21 March 1901) and his father, Sir Henry Shanks Keith (26 December 1852 - 9 July 1944) both served as Provosts of Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father also being appointed a Deputy Lieutenant and Honorary Sheriff of Lanarkshire.
The young James Keith was brought up at Avonholm, Hamilton and attended the prestigious Hamilton Academy.
His family owned the large high-end grocery business, Keith"s of Hamilton, operating from substantial premises on the town"s Cadzow Street (the building remains) 1911 admitted to the Scottish Bar 1926 invested as King"s Counsel (KC) 1936-1937 served as Dean of the Faculty of Advocates 1937-1953 served as a Lord of Session 1937-1953 served as Senator of the College of Justice (Scotland) 1953 appointed, Privy Counsellor (Personal Computer) 1953 created Baron Keith of Avonholm of Saint Bernard"s in the City of Edinburgh 1953-1961 served as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. Here he dissented in 22% of the cases which he heard - a larger percentage than that of his famously radical contemporary, Lord Denning.
Lord Keith"s son Henry was himself appointed Queen"s Counsel (1963). Lord of Session (1971). Privy Counsellor (1976). Created in 1977 Baron Keith of Kinkel, of Strathummel in the District of Perth and Kinross and holding the office of Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (1977-1996), and being invested as Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1997.
