Heather Carol Hallett, Baroness Hallett,DBE,PC,KC(born 16 December 1949), is a retired British judge of theCourt of Appealand a crossbench life peer. The first woman to chair theBar Counciland the fifth woman to sit in the Court of Appeal, Hallett led the independent inquest into the7/7 bombings.In April 2019, she was appointed Chair of the Security Vettings Appeal Panel. In December 2021, she was announced as the chair of thepublic inquiryinto the UK Government's handling of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[1]On 29 June 2022, the Government accepted Baroness Hallett's proposed terms of reference for the inquiry, with minor changes suggested by the devolved administrations.[2]
The Baroness Hallett | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Vice-President of the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal | |
| In office 8 November 2013 – 21 October 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Anthony Hughes |
| Succeeded by | Sir Adrian Fulford |
| Vice-President of the Queen's Bench Division | |
| In office 3 October 2011 – 3 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Sir John Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Sir Nigel Davis |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |
| Assumed office 11 October 2019 Life peerage | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Heather Carol Hallett 16 December 1949 Eastleigh,England |
| Political party | Crossbench(since 2019) |
| Spouse |
Nigel Wilkinson (m.1974) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | St Hugh's College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Judge |
Early life and education
editHallett was born inEastleigh[3]in 1949 and was the daughter of Hugh Victor Dudley HallettQPM(1919–1991), a beat policeman who worked his way up to the rank of assistant chief constable and secretary general of theInternational Police Association.[4][5][6][7]Hallett recalled duringBBC Radio 4'sDesert Island Discsthat one of her early childhood homes was their local police station, which doubled as acustody suite.[3]She was educated atBrockenhurst Grammar School,in theNew Forest,and atSt Hugh's College, Oxford.
Legal career
editHallett was called to the Bar by theInner Templein 1972, specialising in criminal law. She successfully defended a stepfather wrongly accused of murder in an early "cot death"related trial.[3]She was appointedQueen's Counselin 1989 and aBencherof Inner Temple in 1993. She was the first woman to chair theBar Council,in 1998, having been vice-chair in 1997, and became Treasurer of theInner Templein 2011.
Hallett was appointed a Recorder of theCrown Courtin 1989, then a deputy High Court judge in 1995, before becoming a full-time judge of theHigh Courtin 1999, assigned to theQueen's Bench Division.As a High Court judge, she received the customary appointment as aDame Commander of the Order of the British Empire(DBE) on 21 July 1999.[8]She was promoted to theCourt of Appealin 2005. She was appointed a member of theJudicial Appointments Commissionin January 2006, as a representative of the judiciary.
Hallett was chosen in 2009 to act as coroner in the inquest of the 52 fatal victims of the7/7 bombings.She was widely praised for her empathy towards the inquest witnesses.[3]She began a four-year term asVice-President of the Queen's Bench Divisionon 3 October 2011, succeedingBaron Thomas of Cwmgiedd.[9] In May 2012 in an appeal hearing she quashed the murder conviction of 24-year-oldSam Hallamas unsafe after he had spent seven years in prison; he was one of the youngest victims of a UK miscarriage of justice.[10]
In February 2013, she was described as the 8th most powerful woman in Britain byWoman's HouronBBC Radio 4.[11]In November 2013, she was appointedVice-President of the Criminal Divisionof theCourt of Appeal,succeedingLord Hughes of Ombersley.[12]
In March 2014, she was appointed by theSecretary of State for Northern Irelandto carry out an independent review of the administrative scheme by which 'letters of assurance' were sent to those known as the 'on the runs'.[13]
In December 2021, she was announced as the chair of thepublic inquiryinto theUK government's handlingof theCOVID-19 pandemic.[14]
In July 2022, the terms of reference for thepublic inquiryinto theUK government's handlingof theCOVID-19 pandemicwere agreed byBoris Johnson,and he launched the public inquiry.[15]
Honours and affiliations
editShe was appointed as aQueen's Counsel(QC) on 4 April 1989.[16]
She was sworn in as a member ofHer Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Councilin 2005. This entitled her to thehonorific prefix"The Right Honourable"and afterennoblementthepost-nominal letters"PC" for life.
She was awarded thehonorary degreeofDoctor of Laws(LL.D.) by theUniversity of Derbyin 2000.[17]She was also awarded anhonorary doctorateby theUniversity of Portsmouthin 2013.[18]
On 14 June 2017 she was made an Honorary Fellow ofThe Academy of Expertsin recognition of her contribution to The Academy's Judicial Committee and work for Expert Witnesses.
She is the patron ofWomen in Criminal Law.[19]
Hallett is an honorary fellow of her alma mater,St Hugh's College, Oxford.
House of Lords
editHallett was nominated for alife peeragein the2019 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours,[20]and was createdBaroness Hallett, ofRyein the County ofEast Sussex,on 11 October 2019.[21]She sits as acrossbencherin theHouse of Lords[20]and last voted in 2021.
Personal life
editHallett is married to Nigel Vivian Marshall Wilkinson, arecorderand deputy high court judge.[22][23]They have two sons.[4]
References
edit- ^"Ex-High Court judge Baroness Hallett to chair Covid inquiry".BBC News.15 December 2021.Retrieved16 December2021.
- ^HM Government."Acceptance of COVID-19 Inquiry Terms of Reference".Gov.UK.HM Government.
- ^abcd"BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Heather Hallett, former judge and crossbench peer".BBC.Retrieved11 June2021.
- ^ab"Hallett".Who's Who.A & C Black. 2020.doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U18690.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^"Law: You call it trouble, I call it success".Independent.co.uk.October 1998.Archivedfrom the original on 9 May 2022.Retrieved16 August2018.
- ^"Lady Justice Hallett: profile".8 November 2011.Retrieved16 August2018– via telegraph.co.uk.
- ^Who's Who in the United Nations and Related Agencies, Arno Press, 1975, p. 236
- ^"No. 55574".The London Gazette.6 August 1999. p. 8517.
- ^"Appointment of Vice-President of the Queen's Bench Division and Deputy Senior Presiding Judge"(Press release). Judiciary of England and Wales. 27 July 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 18 December 2012.Retrieved12 October2012.
- ^Sam Hallam freed on bail in murder conviction appealBBC News, Retrieved on 16 May 2012.
- ^"Woman's Hour - The Power List 2013 - BBC Radio 4".BBC.Retrieved16 August2018.
- ^"Appointment of new Vice President of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)"(Press release).Judiciary of England and Wales.8 November 2013.Retrieved14 November2013.
- ^"Statement by the Hallett Review, 27 March 2014"(Press release). The Hallett Review. 27 March 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 2 May 2014.
- ^"COVID public inquiry: Former appeal court judge Baroness Hallett to chair probe".Sky News.Retrieved15 December2021.
- ^"Covid: Terms of inquiry into UK pandemic response finalised".BBC News.28 June 2022.
- ^"Queen's Counsel Appointment's 1989".The London Gazette.11 April 1989.Retrieved1 June2023.
- ^"Honorary Graduates".The University of Derby.4 June 2023.Retrieved4 June2023.
- ^"Honorary degree recipients".The University of Portsmouth.1 June 2023.Retrieved1 June2023.
- ^Hill, Perveen."Women in criminal law".Law Gazette.Retrieved21 June2021.
- ^ab"Resignation Peerages 2019"(PDF).Cabinet Office.10 September 2019.
- ^"No. 62799".The London Gazette.17 October 2019. p. 18632.
- ^"Wilkinson, Nigel Vivian Marshall".Who's Who.A & C Black. 2022.doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U39871.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^Bates, Stephen (11 October 2010)."Profile: Lady Justice Hallett".the Guardian.Retrieved16 August2018.
External links
edit- The Hallett Reviewinto the administrative scheme for the 'On the Runs'
- Court of Appeal, Civil Division, HM Court Service
- Chair and Commissionersfrom theJudicial Appointments Commission
- Brief biographyfrom Financial Regulatory Briefing, November 1997