Lady Hale to be deputy president of Supreme Court

Lady Hale, the only female justice of the Supreme Court, has been appointed deputy president.

She will start her new job on Friday this week, the day after Lord Hope, the current deputy president, retires, and will be formally sworn in at a later date.

Lady Hale taught law at Manchester University from 1966 to 1984, and qualified as a barrister before becoming the first woman to be appointed to the Law Commission.

She spent five years as a High Court judge in the Family Division, and five more in the Court of Appeal, before becoming the first female law lord, in 2004.

"It is an honour and a privilege to have been chosen to follow Lord Hope, who has made such a success of the role in the transition from the House of Lords to the Supreme Court," Lade Hale said.

"I look forward to continuing and building upon the work which he has done to establish this great new institution in our national life."

The appointment was made by the Queen on the recommendation of the prime minister and Lord Chancellor, following the recommendation of an independent selection commission which considered applications from the current justices of the Supreme Court.

"Lady Hale brings an exceptional range of experience from almost 20 years as a senior judge, following time spent in academia and law reform work," Lord Neuberger, president of the Supreme Court, said.

"Throughout that time she has made significant contribution to the development of the law in many areas, particularly in family and mental health. She has also done much to promote the importance of diversity in the judiciary."

The role of deputy president involves working alongside the president to oversee the judicial work of the court, and liaising closely with chief executive who manages the court's administration.

Earlier this month, five women were recommended for appointment as High Court judges, 36 per cent of the total - the highest proportion ever recorded by the Judicial Appointments Commission.