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Brenda Hale sworn in as first female president of UK's supreme court Brenda Hale sworn in as first female president of UK's supreme court
(35 minutes later)
The first female president of the UK’s highest court and the youngest lord chief justice in 50 years have been sworn in. The first female president of the supreme court and the youngest lord chief justice in 50 years have been sworn in.
Brenda Hale’s appointment to the supreme court’s top role was announced in a statement from Downing Street in July, guaranteeing her a place in the history books. A longstanding champion of diversity in the judiciary, she became the first female justice of the court in October 2009 and was appointed deputy president in June 2013. There was applause from onlookers at Monday’s ceremony, which marks the beginning of the new legal year. Brenda Hale’s appointment to the leading role at the UK’s highest court was announced by Downing Street in July. A longstanding champion of diversity in the judiciary, she became the first female justice of the court in October 2009 and was appointed deputy president in June 2013.
The supreme court also welcomed Lord Mance as deputy president, as well as three new judges – including a second female justice, Lady Black. Onlookers applauded at the ceremony on Monday, which marks the start of the legal year. The supreme court also welcomed Jonathan Mance as deputy president, as well as three new judges, including a second female justice, Jill Black.
Yorkshire-born Lady Hale, 72, who succeeds Lord Neuberger as the UK’s most senior judge, has had a varied career as an academic lawyer, law reformer and judge. During her time as deputy president of the supreme court, she has ruled on numerous headline-hitting cases, including the Brexit appeal. Lady Hale, 72, who was born in Yorkshire and succeeds Lord Neuberger in the role, has had a varied career as an academic lawyer, law reformer and judge. During her time as deputy president, she ruled on cases including the article 50 appeal.
At a separate ceremony, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Lord Justice Burnett was sworn in as the new lord chief justice. The court of appeal judge, 59, takes over as head of the judiciary of England and Wales from Lord Thomas, who held the position from 2013 and retired on 1 October. In a separate ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Sir Ian Burnett was sworn in as lord chief justice. The court of appeal judge, 59, takes over as head of the judiciary of England and Wales from Lord Thomas, who held the position from 2013 and retired on 1 October.
Sir Ian Burnett, who lives in Essex with his wife and children, has been involved in many high-profile cases and inquiries during his career, including counsel to the inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi al-Fayed. Burnett, who lives in Essex with his wife and children, has been involved in many high-profile cases and inquiries during his career, including acting as counsel to the inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed.
His new responsibilities include representing the views of the judiciary to parliament and the government.His new responsibilities include representing the views of the judiciary to parliament and the government.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “At times of great change the central role of the judiciary upholding the rule of law remains a constant, as do our impartiality and independence. Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “At times of great change, the central role of the judiciary upholding the rule of law remains a constant, as do our impartiality and independence.
“These features are embedded in the oath I have taken. They are fundamental to our justice system and underpin the effective and smooth functioning of our society.“These features are embedded in the oath I have taken. They are fundamental to our justice system and underpin the effective and smooth functioning of our society.
“I believe we should be better at explaining our role and the vital importance of our independence and impartiality. These principles have remained a constant through the generations, but the judiciary does not stand still.“I believe we should be better at explaining our role and the vital importance of our independence and impartiality. These principles have remained a constant through the generations, but the judiciary does not stand still.
“We have embarked upon the most ambitious programme of reform of our courts and tribunals in our history. This would not have been possible without the tireless and visionary leadership of my predecessor Lord Thomas, or the support of the government who have committed to invest £1bn to make it happen. I will continue to pursue this bold vision.” “We have embarked upon the most ambitious programme of reform of our courts and tribunals in our history. This would not have been possible without the tireless and visionary leadership of my predecessor Lord Thomas, or the support of the government, who have committed to invest £1bn to make it happen. I will continue to pursue this bold vision.”
Welcoming Sir Ian, Sir Terence Etherton, the master of the rolls, said that he was formerly known to many present as “Ian from Essex”. Welcoming Burnett, Sir Terence Etherton, the master of the rolls, said he was formerly known to many present as “Ian from Essex”.
“I will say no more in this address about his connections with that beautiful county because, with great restraint, I have made a personal vow to say nothing about TOWIE, or, to those not so familiar with reality TV, The Only Way is Essex.” “I will say no more in this address about his connections with that beautiful county because, with great restraint, I have made a personal vow to say nothing about The Only Way is Essex,” he said.
Acknowledging Sir Ian’s reputation for “calmness, balance, good sense and humour”, he described him as a “relatively youthful and certainly a very energetic and active LCJ”, whose latest accessory was a Fitbit wristband. Acknowledging Burnett’s reputation for “calmness, balance, good sense and humour”, he described him as a “relatively youthful and certainly a very energetic and active LCJ”, whose latest accessory was a Fitbit.
Sir Ian was “certainly not a typical conventional establishment figure,” he added. He was “certainly not a typical conventional establishment figure,” Etherton said.
“It appears that the only club of which our new LCJ is or has been a member is the Pizza Express Club. “It appears that the only club of which our new LCJ is or has been a member is the Pizza Express club.
“He tells me that when he included it in his Who’s Who return, they replied that it was not the type of club they had in mind.”“He tells me that when he included it in his Who’s Who return, they replied that it was not the type of club they had in mind.”