Supreme Court judge reads her story to children
CHILDREN from schools around the island were enthralled by a visit from a Supreme Court judge yesterday.
Lady Brenda Hale, the Supreme Court’s first female president, who is the star of new children’s book Equal to Everything: Judge Brenda and the Supreme Court, took to the Guilles-Alles library to read the book to children.
Hebe Hurford, 8, said she learnt a lot from the session with Lady Hale.
‘It was good to hear her read from the book,’ she said.
‘I learnt that not everyone gets treated fairly, I took that away from the story. It was interesting, I hope to be the best I can be in the future.’
Published just over a week ago, the book follows the journey of a young girl from North Yorkshire, loosely based on Lady Hale and where she is from, who travels to the highest court of the UK in Westminster.
The sale of the book, which is written in rhyming couplets by Guardian columnist Afua Hirsch, who is a former barrister, and illustrated by Henny Beaumont, comes at a time when the role of the Supreme Court moves closer to taking centre stage in UK politics.
Lady Hale, 74, has been president of the court since 2017 and this year it marks its 10th anniversary. She said it was lovely to be able to read the book to children whom she hoped to inspire.
‘It’s great for three reasons,’ she said.
‘One, all of its sale proceeds go back into Legal Action Group’s charity to support access to justice.
‘It is also something for children to read about that will empower them.
‘Then it will hopefully inspire girls, and boys alike, to aspire to all roles equally.
‘It’s a great book and the children had some great questions, I was really pleased to see them so engaged.’
Finn Harrington, 7, asked several questions of Lady Hale after the reading.
‘I was really interested in what she did,’ he said.
‘I asked things about court and the cases she was involved in – she was really good.’
Lady Hale also stayed to sign the book for children after the reading.
The Guernsey International Legal Association will be providing donations of the books to all primary school libraries in the island.
