Brenda Hale has unquestionably left a mark on the history of diversity in the law. The first female member of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, the first woman Justice of the Supreme Court and the first woman president of that court. By any standard, these achievements are powerful symbols of female empowerment and of equality. Of perhaps greater significance, however, is the value to the law which she has contributed by her independence of thought, clarity of mind, and focus on the rights and interests of the most vulnerable and least entitled in our societies.

In the contribution which Lady Hale has made to the law of Northern Ireland she has displayed these qualities consistently. I propose to discuss her reasoning in a number of recent cases, from both Northern Ireland and elsewhere, which reflect the important role that she has played, which is marked by her attentiveness to the needs of the least advantaged and by her responsiveness to the changing values of our societies.