How would you describe Baroness Hale? What words would you use?
A difficult question to answer as she has had so many different rôles in her career but Martin Bruce, who interviewed her on Friday, September 15 last week, found all the right words.
His questions were erudite and searching and Lady Hale responded with an engaging conversation which the audience loved. Her extraordinary career encompassed many trail-blazing appointments: the first woman to be appointed to the Law Commission; the second ever Lady Justice in the Court of Appeal; the first female Lord of Appeal in Ordinary; the first woman to serve in the Supreme Court and its first female president.
The abiding impression she left with us was that in reaching a judgement she would be scrupulously fair but always understanding and compassionate.
She enjoyed the conversation and clapped her interviewer, later remarking that he had certainly done his homework.
Richard Fisher, managing partner of Heringtons Solicitors and a key sponsor of the event said: “The interview was conducted with charm and wit and felt like we had the pleasure to witness an interesting conversation between friends. Heringtons is delighted to help bring such events to our town. Rye is very fortunate indeed to have such an wide ranging arts festival, able to attract speakers of the calibre of Baroness Hale who ably demonstrated how fortunate we are as a country to have judges, rooted in humanity, who, eschewing power, remain free to base and express their decisions on logic and law even when compelled through circumstance to enter unwelcome political minefields.“
Image Credits: Kt bruce .