THE late Lord Kerr was an outstanding lawyer whose independence and body of work will be a lasting legacy, Northern Ireland's most senior judge has said.
Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan described the sudden death of his predecessor as a "terrible shock" to the whole legal community.
Judicial colleagues also observed a minute's silence as part of tributes paid at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast.
Brian Kerr passed away at the age of 72, just two months after he retired as a Supreme Court judge.
Taking the title Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore, he was appointed as a founding member of the UK's highest court in 2009.
The role marked the culmination of a distinguished legal career where he served as Crown Counsel, High Court judge and Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.
Sir Declan told those gathered that Lord Kerr had practised law in the building they were in for nearly 40 years.
"He was obviously an outstanding lawyer with a strong independent streak and a body of jurisprudence which will long survive him," the chief justice said.
Recognition was also given to Lord Kerr's "self-effacing" sense of humour and life-long interest in Northern Ireland's legal profession.
"If Northern Ireland counsel were appearing in the Supreme Court they were not allowed out of the building until they had come for coffee in his chambers," Sir Declan explained.
"Most of us will have been recipients of the hospitality provided by Brian and (his wife) Gillian at their London flat and in Tonaghmore House."
Offering condolences to Lady Kerr and their two sons, Sir Declan added: "The news of his passing was a terrible shock to the entire legal community and will take a little time to sink in.
"He still had much to offer professionally and personally, and I am sure that we will have an opportunity to reflect further on that in the not too distant future."
