Lady Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, was the judge who led the Supreme Court in its landmark ruling over the suspension of Parliament.
In this episode she talks of being a “speccy swot”; how it felt as the lone woman at the top of judiciary; on relations and disagreements with her colleagues; and about the impact of Brexit on the power of the judiciary.
The interview is conducted by Frances Gibb, journalist and former legal editor of The Times, for a landmark podcast series, The Judges: Power, Politics and the People, hosted by The University of Law.
Chapters:
00:00:00 Intro
00:02:20 Being a woman in the judiciary
00:06:00 Spider brooch
00:07:50 Brexit prorogation ruling
00:14:26 Early background
00:17:03 “Girly swot”
00:18:37 Choosing law
00:20:18 Becoming a judge
00:21:49 A women’s perspective
00:26:04 Impact of career - highlights and regrets
00:34:39 Being an outsider and imposter syndrome
00:38:11 Judges’ role in changing law
00:41:20 Creation of UK Supreme Court
00:44:26 Brexit, judges’ politics and the sovereignty of Parliament
00:50:11 Relationship with ministers
00:51:53 Lady Chief Justice
00:54:36 Future challenges - funding, diversity
00:56:59 Judicial appointments