Queen Elizabeth appoints female lawyer as Britain s top judge

London July 21 (IANS) British Queen Elizabeth on Friday approved the appointment of the first-ever female head of the UK s highest court.

Eminent law lord Baroness Hale will become President of Britain s Supreme Court following the retirement in September of the current President Lord Neuberger Xinhua news agency reported.

Lady Hale 72 was first appointed as a top appeal judge in 2004 and a Justice of the Supreme Court when the court was established in 2009.

She has served as deputy President of the apex court since 2013. The baroness a legal expert in family law described her new role as a "great honour and a challenge".

Lord Neuberger said her appointment was "a fitting pinnacle to a truly ground-breaking career".

During her time as deputy President Lady Hale had ruled on many high-profile cases including the government s Brexit appeal. She will be officially sworn in as President on October 2 along with three new justices including a second female judge Lady Justice Black.

Lady Hale began her legal career teaching law at the University of Manchester becoming Professor of Law in 1986.

--IANS
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