The first woman and youngest judge to become a law lord, Hale is currently the only female justice of the UK supreme court Trailblazer and troublemaker Brenda Hale was the first woman and the youngest judge to become a law lord, and is currently the only female justice of the UK supreme court. Calling herself a "softline" feminist, she has campaigned to increase the diversity of the judiciary, worked to overhaul family law, and to protect victims of domestic violence. Savaged by the rightwing press for trying to bring in a no-fault divorce, in the 80s she wrote the first comprehensive survey of women's rights at work, in the family and the state, and was instrumental in introducing the Children's Act 1989 – the most important piece of legislation in the UK protecting children.
As well as speaking out about the exclusive way judges are picked, Hale, 66, is not above fighting small skirmishes: after dinner in judge's lodges she, along with a female barrister, refused to withdraw to another room while the men continued their port and conversation. As one panellist marvelled: "She's a real troublemaker. She's brilliant."
The Guardian, Tuesday 8 March 2011 by Homa Khaleeli
