Career

Lionel Leach was born in Rochdale the son of barrister Robert Alfred Leach on 3 February 1883. Lionel Leach was called to the bar in 1907. In 1933, Leach was appointed puisne judge of the Rangoon High Court.

He served until 1937 when he was transferred to Madras as Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.

The most important trial of his tenure was the Lakshmikanthan Murder Case and Leach presided over the sensational trial in 1944 in which M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and North. South. Krishnan were found guilty. Leach served till 1 February 1947 and was succeeded by Wiiliam Gentle.

In 1949, Leach was appointed Privy Councillor and headed the Singapore Riots Inquiry Commission of 1951 that made recommendations after the Maria Hertogh riots. He was appointed by Governor Franklin Gimson.

Lionel Leach died in his chambers at Gray"s Inn Square on 26 January 1960 at the age of seventy six.