Rose Heilbron became the first woman judge to sit at London’s Old Bailey.
On January 4, 1972, Rose Heilbron made headlines once again by becoming the first woman to sit as a judge at the Old Bailey, London’s esteemed Central Criminal Court. This achievement was particularly groundbreaking due to the Old Bailey's status as the site of some of the most significant and serious criminal trials in England and Wales. The presence of a woman judge within such historic walls marked a cultural and professional milestone, shifting public perception and bolstering the confidence of women legal professionals throughout the nation. Her judgeship at the Old Bailey reinforced that women could equally administer justice at the highest levels.