By Sheila Mckenzie-
Highly acclaimed Supreme Court judge, Lady Hale has set up a court room at the University Of Bradford.
Her visit to the University in Yorkshire follows a prestigious national award by The Times Newspaper which recognises Bradford’s outstanding impact on social inclusion which ensures all students, irrespective of their background, are supported to achieve their potential and go on to achieve success.
Hale, who received an honorary degree from the University in 2019, delivered a speech to students, solicitors and alumni, and held both praise and admiration for the new development.
Speaking to The Eye Of Media.Com, Lady Hale said:
” The University of Bradford has made its mark by winning an award for social inclusion. It’s level of diversity is a shining expression of leadership and excellence. There is a high percentage of BAME undergraduates in the University and the fact more than 50 per cent come from the least advantaged areas and this is very impressive.
The University’s wider participation in education and its admirable impact on social and economic growth is exemplary’.
The mock trials which will be held in Bradford University will be a valuable experience that will empower students from all walks of life”
President Hale who officially retires at the end of this month has been described by the president of the Law Society, Christina Blacklaws, as a ”powerful role model” .
She was the first woman to be appointed to the Law Commission before becoming the president of the Supreme Court for 3 years between 2017 and 2020. She joined the House of Lords as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and was also the only woman to have been appointed to that position.
Lady Hale will now sit as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, as well as working as a judge at Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal.
LAW LORD
After serving as a Law Lord until 2009, she transferred to the new Supreme Court following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. There, she served as Deputy President of the Supreme Court from 2013 to 2017.
Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor at the University, said, “We’re delighted to see so many people here to celebrate the opening of the Lady Hale Court, and it’s an honour to welcome Lady Hale.
“Lady Hale has led a pioneering career, being the first female to achieve so much, and I want to thank her for her contributions and her continuing work in this field.”
Head Of Law School Professor Engobo Emeseh, Head of Law School, added:
”It has been a great honour to have an accomplished woman like Lady Hale here today. We hope the mock court will allow us to build relationships with communities and schools – and together we can make the University be what we all know it can be.
“It’s important to see yourself in someone who you aspire to be like, as a woman, I look at Lady Hale and know that I can be successful.”