Rose Heilbron
Encyclopedia
Dame Rose Heilbron, DBE
, QC
(19 August 1914 - 8 December 2005) was one of the outstanding barrister
s of the post-war period in the United Kingdom
, whose career included many 'firsts' for a woman - she was the first woman to win a scholarship to Gray's Inn
, the first woman to be appointed King's Counsel
in England, the first to lead in a murder case, the first woman Recorder
, the first woman judge
to sit at the Old Bailey
and the first woman Treasurer of Gray's Inn.
, the daughter of a Jewish hotelier, Max Heilbron. She attended The Belvedere School and Liverpool University, where she became one of the first two women to gain a first class honours degree in law, in 1935. She was awarded the Lord Justice Holker scholarship at Gray's Inn in 1936, and she became one of only two women to hold a master of laws degree in 1937. Two years later she was called to the bar
, joining the Northern Circuit.
By 1946, Heilbron had appeared in 10 murder trials, and in 1949, she was one of the first two female King's Counsel at the English Bar (the other was Helena Normanton
). She became something of a household name, especially in her home city, when, in 1949-50, she became the first woman to lead in a murder case, when she defended the gangster George Kelly, accused of shooting dead the deputy manager of the Cameo cinema in Liverpool, which became known as "The Cameo Murder
". He reportedly said that he was not "having a Judy defend [him]", but he later praised her for her painstaking defence, which led to her being named the Daily Mirror'
s "Woman of the Year". She was unable to save Kelly from the gallows
, but the Court of Appeal
quashed his conviction as unsafe in 2003.
Heilbron's successes in the first half of the 1950s included the defence of four men accused of hanging a boy during a burglary (she was able to show the death had been an accident) and of Louis Bloom, a solicitor from Hartlepool
who was accused of murdering his mistress in his office. She was an honorary Colonel of the East Lancashire Battalion of the WRAC
and the first woman in Liverpool to wear a calf-length evening dress.
Heilbron was appointed as Recorder for Burnley
in November 1956, the first appointment of a woman as Recorder, although not the first time one had sat. In 1957, she was the first woman to sit as a Commissioner of Assize. Although Elizabeth Lane
was appointed the first female judge in the County Court
in 1962 and of the High Court in 1965, Heilbron was appointed as the first female judge
to sit at the Old Bailey
on 4 January 1972. She became leader of the Northern Circuit in 1973 but then followed Lane as the second woman High Court judge in 1974. She was assigned to the Family Division
, and created a DBE
.
Heilbron chaired a committee to consider reform of rape
laws in 1975. The committee's subsequent report recommended that the identity of rape complainants should be kept secret, and that the defence should be limited in its ability to cross-examine the complainant about their sexual history in an effort to attack their character. In 1976, she was made an honorary fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
, where her daughter (Hilary Nora Burstein Heilbron, born 1949, who also became a QC, in 1987) had been educated.
Heilbron was presiding judge of the Northern Circuit from 1979 to 1982, and was Treasurer of Gray's Inn in 1985. She retired from judicial office in 1988.
Heilbron's rapid rise apparently was aided by the fact that so many men were in the armed forces during her first six years as a barrister during World War II
.
Her hobbies included golf and walking, and she was a keen member of Soroptimist
, the worldwide organisation for women in management and professions, working to advance human rights and the status of women.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(19 August 1914 - 8 December 2005) was one of the outstanding barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
s of the post-war period in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, whose career included many 'firsts' for a woman - she was the first woman to win a scholarship to Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, the first woman to be appointed King's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in England, the first to lead in a murder case, the first woman Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
, the first woman judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
to sit at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
and the first woman Treasurer of Gray's Inn.
Early life
Heilbron was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, the daughter of a Jewish hotelier, Max Heilbron. She attended The Belvedere School and Liverpool University, where she became one of the first two women to gain a first class honours degree in law, in 1935. She was awarded the Lord Justice Holker scholarship at Gray's Inn in 1936, and she became one of only two women to hold a master of laws degree in 1937. Two years later she was called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
, joining the Northern Circuit.
Career
In 1945, she married the Dublin-born Dr Nathaniel Burstein, whom she had met at court. He became a consultant at a Liverpool hospital, and there is little doubt that the availability of medical knowledge was a great help to her in some cases.By 1946, Heilbron had appeared in 10 murder trials, and in 1949, she was one of the first two female King's Counsel at the English Bar (the other was Helena Normanton
Helena Normanton
Helena Florence Normanton, KC was the first woman to practise as a barrister in the UK. In 1922 she was called to the Bar of England and Wales at the Middle Temple, following the example set by Ivy Williams earlier that year....
). She became something of a household name, especially in her home city, when, in 1949-50, she became the first woman to lead in a murder case, when she defended the gangster George Kelly, accused of shooting dead the deputy manager of the Cameo cinema in Liverpool, which became known as "The Cameo Murder
The Cameo Murder
-Crime:On the evening of 19 March 1949, the Cameo cinema in Liverpool, England, was the scene of a brutal double murder which led to a miscarriage of justice. The cinema manager, Leonard Thomas, was counting the day's takings assisted by his deputy, Bernard Catterall, when a masked man entered...
". He reportedly said that he was not "having a Judy defend [him]", but he later praised her for her painstaking defence, which led to her being named the Daily Mirror
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
, but the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
quashed his conviction as unsafe in 2003.
Heilbron's successes in the first half of the 1950s included the defence of four men accused of hanging a boy during a burglary (she was able to show the death had been an accident) and of Louis Bloom, a solicitor from Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
who was accused of murdering his mistress in his office. She was an honorary Colonel of the East Lancashire Battalion of the WRAC
Women's Royal Army Corps
The Women's Royal Army Corps was the corps to which all women in the British Army except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chaplains and nurses belonged from 1949 to 1992.-History:The...
and the first woman in Liverpool to wear a calf-length evening dress.
Heilbron was appointed as Recorder for Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
in November 1956, the first appointment of a woman as Recorder, although not the first time one had sat. In 1957, she was the first woman to sit as a Commissioner of Assize. Although Elizabeth Lane
Elizabeth Lane
Dame Elizabeth Lane, DBE was one of the first women to practise as a barrister in the United Kingdom.Born Elizabeth Kathleen Coulborn, she was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1940...
was appointed the first female judge in the County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
in 1962 and of the High Court in 1965, Heilbron was appointed as the first female judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
to sit at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
on 4 January 1972. She became leader of the Northern Circuit in 1973 but then followed Lane as the second woman High Court judge in 1974. She was assigned to the Family Division
Family division
Family division can refer to:* Family Division of the High Court of Justice* divorce* annulment* division of property* alimony* parental responsibility * dysfunctional familyFor an overview, please see family and family law....
, and created a DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Heilbron chaired a committee to consider reform of rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
laws in 1975. The committee's subsequent report recommended that the identity of rape complainants should be kept secret, and that the defence should be limited in its ability to cross-examine the complainant about their sexual history in an effort to attack their character. In 1976, she was made an honorary fellow of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located at the end of Norham Gardens in north Oxford. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £34m....
, where her daughter (Hilary Nora Burstein Heilbron, born 1949, who also became a QC, in 1987) had been educated.
Heilbron was presiding judge of the Northern Circuit from 1979 to 1982, and was Treasurer of Gray's Inn in 1985. She retired from judicial office in 1988.
Heilbron's rapid rise apparently was aided by the fact that so many men were in the armed forces during her first six years as a barrister during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Her hobbies included golf and walking, and she was a keen member of Soroptimist
Soroptimist
Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is a world-wide volunteer service organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world...
, the worldwide organisation for women in management and professions, working to advance human rights and the status of women.