Sir Ian Burnett donned the robes of Lord Chief Justice this week while Lady Hale made history as the first woman President of the Supreme Court.
Sir Ian, who took over from Lord Thomas at a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice this week, practised common and public law from Temple Garden Chambers until 2008, when he joined the High Court. Notable cases included acting as leading counsel to the inquiry into the Southall rail crash, and as counsel to the inquests into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi al Fayed. He said: ‘I believe we should be better at explaining our role and the vital importance of our independence and impartiality.’
Over at the Supreme Court, meanwhile, Lady Hale was sworn in as President along with Deputy President Lord Mance and three new Justices, Lady Black, Lord Lloyd-Jones and Lord Briggs.
Baroness Hale, who succeeds Lord Neuberger, pledged to ‘do right to all manner of people’ while saying her oaths. She was among the first cohort of Justices when the Supreme Court opened in 2009, and is a former academic and family law barrister at the Manchester Bar.
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