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Baroness Hale is President of Supreme Court

It has been a week of women focused headlines – both the good and the bad. We have had the illumination of the gender pay gap being implemented within the BBC’s walls, success in women’s international cricket, hockey and football, the announcement of a new female Doctor and finally the focus of this blog: the appointment of Baroness Hale (less formally known as Lady Hale) as President of the highest appeal court in the UK, the Supreme Court.

The appointment happens 98 years after women first entered the profession and is indeed a landmark for woman lawyers and women in general. The outgoing President, Lord Neuberger has commented:

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Lady Hale over the last five years, and have seen at first hand the intellect and humanity with which she approaches the appeals which come before her, as well as her commitment to the rule of law, legal education and building public understanding of the work of the courts.” said Lord Neuberger.

Lady Hale will take up office on 2 October 2017 which also means a new Deputy President will be appointed. It is safe to say this is unlikely to also be a woman considering Lady Hale has been the only female Justice, ever, however, the number of women at the Supreme Court bench is set to double with Lady Justice Black set to be appointed – 13 years after Lady Hale.

It is important to remember that there is still a long way to go in order to obtain equality in respect of the judiciary with the proportion of female judges in the UK among the lowest in Europe and there yet to be a BAME Justice appointed to date. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another 98 years for another major milestone!


Blog by Lui Asquith, Family Solicitor

 

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