Ismail Khan bin Ibrahim Khan (18 June 1905 – 18 April 2000; Jawi: إسماعيل خان بن إبراهيم خان) was a Malaysian barrister and judge who served as the third Chief Justice of Borneo. He was the first Malay law graduate and second to become a barrister. Khan later came out of retirement after being nominated as President of the Dewan Negara (President of the Senate of Malaysia).

Early life and education

Khan attended the premier boys' high school, King Edward VII School, and later the St. George's Institution where he matriculated in January 1923. Upon matriculation, Khan enrolled in the King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore to study medicine only to change his mind and left for University College, London in June the same year to read law instead. After four years in June 1927, Khan graduated and was called to the English Bar by Middle Temple in January 1928.

Career

After returning to British Malaya, Khan practised at a law firm in Penang of the Straits Settlements until the Japanese occupation of Malaya. In the aftermath of the war, he resumed his practice at Alor Setar, Kedah before being elevated to the bench. In 1958, Khan was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Malaysia (then Federation of Malaya) and was based in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. As Supreme Court judge, he was also later posted to the states of Negeri Sembilan and Malacca. Ten years after elevation to the bench, Khan was appointed the Chief Justice of Borneo on 2 September 1968, an office which he held until his retirement on 31 December 1973. He was the first non-British Empire citizen and only one of two non-East Malaysians to date to be appointed to the office.

In December 1980, Khan came out of retirement after government decided to nominate him as the next President of the Senate of Malaysia. He served as the sixth president for more than four years before retiring a second time in July 1985.

Honours

Political offices
Preceded byOmar Ong Yoke LinPresident of the Dewan Negara 1980–1985Succeeded byBenedict Stephens
Legal offices
Preceded bySir Philip Ernest Housden PikeChief Justice of Borneo 1968–1973Succeeded byLee Hun Hoe