Conor Gearty

Conor Gearty is professor of human rights law at LSE, and a KC (hon). He is a barrister and member of Matrix Chambers from where he continues to practice. Conor is a bencher at both Middle Temple and the Honourable Society of the King’s Inn in Dublin.  His cases are mainly concerned with human rights issues and he has appeared in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the (old) House of Lords.  

Conor has four honorary degrees, from Brunel and Roehampton universities in England, UCD in Ireland and Sacred Hearty university in the USA. Since 2020, Conor has also been Vice-President for Social Sciences at the British Academy.

Conor’s academic scholarship is concerned with issues related to human rights, civil liberties and terrorism law. In 2021, he published a study on the role of the judges in relation to the use by British authorities of torture: ‘British Judges Then and Now: the Role of the Judges’. His most recent book is On Fantasy Island: Britain, Europe and Human Rights (Oxford, 2016). His most recent book is Homeland Insecurity: The Rise and Rise of Global Anti-Terrorism Law, published by Polity in May 2024.

As a student, Conor Gearty was undefeated in university debate, winning the Observer Mace on two occasions, the Irish Times competition (twice) and completed a two-month debating tour of the US as a representative of the English Speaking Union of the Commonwealth. His record in university debate has never been matched.