A historic ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London took place where the first ever Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales was sworn in. The role was first created in 1234 and she is the first woman to ever lead the judiciary. Lady Sue Carr was appointed by King Charles III. The swearing in ceremony was televised for the first time in history.
The 58 year old, Lady Carr will oversee the deployment and welfare of judges. She will also be in charge of the allocation of work in the court. Negotiations with the government over funding for the judiciary will also be lead by her.
In 1987 she became a barrister and and became a senior barrister in 2003. In her career she has had a few senior roles, one of them being chair of the Bar Standards Board and complaints commissioner to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. In 2009 she became a criminal judge and in 2013 a High Court judge before being appointed a Lady Justice of Appeal in 2020. She is a mother of three and a keen singer and pianist. Within the judiciary, there has been a drive for diversity and her appointment comes amid these changes.
