Dame Rosalyn Higgins GBE JSD FBA QC

First woman judge and President of the International Court of Justice

Admitted 1959, Called 1975

The former world’s most senior judge Baroness Higgins GBE was educated at Burlington Grammar School, London and Girton College, University of Cambridge, receiving her B.A. in 1959 and LL.B. in 1962. In addition to her undergraduate degrees she also holds an M.A. She continued her studies at Yale University, earning a J.S.D. She has received eight honorary doctorates from other academic institutions, as well as the Yale Law School Medal of Merit and the Manley O Hudson Medal.

In 1975 she was called to the Bar at The Inner Temple. In 1986 she was appointed QC and a Bencher of this Inn. She was a member of the Human Rights Committee, the body responsible for supervising the implementation of the International Covenant on civil and political rights for 14 years.

In 1995 she was elected as a judge at the International Court of Justice. She was elected President from 2006–2009. In 2009 she was appointed advisor on International Law on the John Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War.

Other appointments have included:

• Specialist in International Law, Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1963–1974
• Visiting Fellow, London School of Economics, 1974–1978
• Professor of International Law, University of Kent at Canterbury, 1978–1981
• Professor of International Law, University of London (London School of Economics), 1981–1995
• Vice President, British Institute of International and Comparative Law
• Member of the UN Human Rights Committee