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Queen Elizabeth IIState & Ceremonial

The Queen approves appointment of Baroness Hale as new Supreme Court President

The Queen has approved the appointment of Baroness Hale of Richmond as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom upon the retirement of Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury.

Baroness Hale, who was previously appointed Deputy President of The Supreme Court in June 2013, has also been appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary in January 2004 and a Justice of the Supreme Court when it opened in October 2009.

Lady Hale is now the most senior judge in the United Kingdom and is the first female to hold the position of President.

In a statement, the government said: “The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of The Rt Hon the Baroness Hale of Richmond as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom upon the retirement of The Rt Hon Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury in September 2017.”

The 72-year-old judge said: “It is a great honour and a challenge.”

The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal for civil cases in the UK, and criminal cases from England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It is the final court of appeal in the UK judicial system and deals with appeals on matters of law.

Recent high profile cases decided by the Supreme Court include the landmark Brexit case initiated by Gina Miller, the judgment in the case of the sick baby Charlie Gard, and the gay man who won a legal battle which ensured his husband received the same pension rights as a wife would receive.

Lady Hale will be officially sworn in as President on October 2 following the retirement of Lord Neuberger.

The Yorkshire-born judge has previously criticised the judicial appointments system for selecting predominantly white men from similar economic and academic backgrounds.

The Bar Council have said that her appointment as the country’s most senior judge will “serve as an encouragement to all” for greater diversity in law.