Rose Heilbron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Rose Heilbron
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Becoming a KC in April 1949
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| Judge of the High Court of Justice (Family Division) | |
| In office 1974–1988 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 August 1914 Liverpool, England |
| Died | 8 December 2005 (aged 91) Islington, England |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
| Spouse | Dr Nathaniel Burstein |
| Education | The Belvedere School University of Liverpool |
| Occupation | Lawyer and judge |
| Known for | many firsts in UK legal history |
Dame Rose Heilbron was a groundbreaking British barrister and judge. She was born on August 19, 1914, and passed away on December 8, 2005. Rose Heilbron achieved many "firsts" for women in the legal world.
She was the first woman to earn a top law degree at the University of Liverpool. She was also the first woman to win a scholarship to Gray's Inn, a famous legal society. Rose Heilbron was one of the first two women to become a King's Counsel (a senior lawyer) in England. She was also the first woman to lead a major murder case. Later, she became the first woman recorder and the first woman judge to sit at the Old Bailey, a famous court. She was also the first woman to lead Gray's Inn as its treasurer.
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Early Life and Education
Rose Heilbron was born in Liverpool on August 19, 1914. Her father, Max Heilbron, was a hotelier who helped Jewish people move to other countries.
Rose went to Belvedere School and then to Liverpool University. In 1935, she was one of the first two women to get a first-class honors degree in law. She won the Lord Justice Holker scholarship at Gray's Inn in 1936. By 1937, she was one of only two women with a master's degree in law. In 1939, she officially became a barrister. She joined the Northern Circuit, a group of lawyers, in 1940.
A Trailblazing Career
Rose Heilbron mostly worked on cases about personal injuries and criminal law. Her career grew quickly, partly because many men were serving in the Second World War. This meant more opportunities for women in law.
In 1944, she helped the West Indian cricketer Learie Constantine in his case. He had been turned away from a hotel because of his skin color. In 1946, she represented two boys who were hurt by a minefield on a beach. This case helped lead to a new law called the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.
By 1946, Rose Heilbron had worked on many serious criminal cases. In 1949, she became one of the first two female King's Counsel (KC) in England. She was only 34, making her the youngest KC since 1783. She became very well-known, especially in Liverpool.
In 1949–50, she was the first woman to lead a major criminal defense. She defended George Kelly, who was accused of a shooting in Liverpool. Even though he was found guilty, he praised her hard work. The Daily Mirror newspaper named her "Woman of the Year." Years later, in 2003, his conviction was overturned.
Rose Heilbron continued to have many successes in the 1950s. She defended four men accused of causing a boy's death during a burglary. She proved it was an accident. She also defended Louis Bloom, a lawyer accused of a serious crime. He was found guilty of a lesser charge.
She also worked on other important legal cases. These included Ormrod v Crosville Motor Services in 1953, about who is responsible for someone else's actions. Another was Sweet v Parsley in 1970, about needing to prove intent in criminal cases.
In November 1956, Rose Heilbron became the first woman to be appointed as a Recorder for Burnley. A Recorder is a type of judge. In 1957, she was the first woman to sit as a Commissioner of Assize, another judicial role.
While Elizabeth Lane became the first female High Court judge in 1965, Rose Heilbron made history again. On January 4, 1972, she became the first woman judge to sit at the Old Bailey court. In 1973, she became the leader of the Northern Circuit. Then, in 1974, she became the second woman High Court judge, following Elizabeth Lane. She was assigned to the Family Division and was given the title DBE. From 1979 to 1982, she was the first woman to be a Presiding Judge of any Circuit, handling many criminal cases.
In 1976, she was honored by Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.
She became a bencher (a senior member) at Gray's Inn in 1968. In 1985, she was the first woman to lead one of the four Inns of Court when she became its treasurer. She retired from her judicial role in 1988.
Personal Life
Rose Heilbron enjoyed golf and walking. She was also an active member of Soroptimist International. This is a global group for women in leadership roles, working to improve human rights and women's status. She was an Honorary Colonel for a part of the WRAC.
In 1945, she married Dr Nathaniel Burstein, a doctor from Dublin. He became a consultant at a Liverpool hospital. His medical knowledge was often helpful in her legal cases. Their daughter, Hilary, was born in 1949. Hilary also became a barrister and was appointed a QC in 1987.
Later Years and Legacy
When Rose Heilbron became a High Court judge, she and her husband moved from Liverpool to London. She passed away in a nursing home in Islington on December 8, 2005, due to pneumonia. She was survived by her husband and daughter. Her daughter, Hilary Heilbron, wrote a book about her mother's life in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Rose Heilbron para niños
