Cambridge-educated mother-of-four becomes Supreme Court justice

Dame Ingrid Simler, whose appointment was announced on Tuesday, has been a Court of Appeal judge for more than four years

Dame Ingrid Simler has been made a Supreme Court Justice (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)

A Cambridge-educated mother-of-four who became a barrister more than 35 years ago has been made a Supreme Court justice.

Dame Ingrid Simler, who has been a Court of Appeal judge for more than four years, will replace Lord Kitchin, who recently retired.

Her appointment was announced by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

A Supreme Court spokeswoman said Lady Justice Simler, who was a High Court judge between late 2013 and mid-2019, is the fifth woman to become a Supreme Court justice.

She said there are currently 10 male justices and one woman – Lady Rose.

The spokeswoman said the King made the appointment, on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, following recommendations by an independent selection commission.

“Dame Ingrid Simler was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 1987, having read law at Cambridge University, and completed a post-graduate diploma in EU law at the Europa Institute, University of Amsterdam,” said the spokeswoman.

“Lady Justice Simler is married with four children.”

She will bring exceptional experience and ability to the court following a distinguished career as a barrister and judge

Supreme Court President Lord Reed

Supreme Court President Lord Reed said: “I am delighted to welcome Lady Justice Simler as a Justice to the Supreme Court.”

He added: “She will bring exceptional experience and ability to the court following a distinguished career as a barrister and judge.

“Her experience in employment law, tax, public law and criminal law will be highly valuable to the Supreme Court and will further strengthen us as a world-leading court.”

Meanwhile, a new female High Court judge has broken with tradition by opting for the title Ms Justice not Mrs Justice.

Barrister Ruth Henke KC, who recently began overseeing cases in the Family Division of the High Court, will be known Ms Justice Henke.

Her appointment was recently announced by the Judicial Office.

A spokeswoman for the Judicial Office said the prefix of “Mr, Mrs or Ms” is a “matter for the individual High Court judge” in “consultation with senior judiciary”.

Ms Justice Russell, who also oversees family cases, was the first judge to opt for the title Ms Justice, in 2014.