Joyanne Bracewell
Encyclopedia
Dame Joyanne Winifred Bracewell, DBE
, QC
, FRSA
(5 July 1934 - 9 January 2007) was the most senior judge of the Family Division
of the High Court of Justice
at the time of her death, after the President of the Family Division
.
, the daughter of Jack and Lillian Bracewell. Her father worked in textiles. She was a child actress in two comedy films made in Manchester in 1948, Cup-Tie Honeymoon
and Holidays with Pay
. She after being educated mostly at home, she studied at Manchester University (LLB
, LLM
).
She married jazz musician Roy Copeland in 1963. They had one son and one daughter together.
She was called to the Bar
at Gray's Inn
in 1955, was in pupillage
at the Bar 1955-56 and a Member of the Northern Circuit
from 1955 to 1990. She was a Recorder
of the Crown Court
between 1975 and 1983, and was appointed QC
in 1978. She was a Circuit Judge on the Northern Circuit from 1983 to 1986, moving to the Western Circuit from 1986 to 1990.
, after Elizabeth Lane
, Rose Heilbron
, Margaret Booth
, and Elizabeth Butler-Sloss. As is customary, she was created Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE). She became well known as Hon. Mrs. Justice Bracewell.
She was largely responsible for drafting, and oversaw the introduction of, the Children Act 1989
, and she served as Family Law Division Liaison Judge in the Royal Courts of Justice
in London
from 1990 to 1997, and was Chairman of the Children Act Advisory Committee from 1993 to 1997.
She was involved in many high-profile cases. In 2004, she was praised by Fathers4Justice as "one of the more enlightened members of the judiciary" after she gave a residence order to a father whose former wife repeatedly refused him access, in defiance of earlier court orders. In February 2006, she ruled that two children should live with their mother's former same-sex partner, after the mother took the children to live in a different county, in defiance of a shared residence order. Her order was upheld by the Court of Appeal but overturned by the House of Lords
.
She was awarded an honorary LLD by Manchester University in 1991, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
in 1994. She was a consulting editor for Butterworth's Family Law Service from 1989 to her death, and editor in chief of The Family Court Practice from its first publication in 1993.
She died of cancer
, following a lengthy illness.
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...
, FRSA
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(5 July 1934 - 9 January 2007) was the most senior judge of 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....
of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
at the time of her death, after the President of the Family Division
President of the Family Division
The President of the Family Division is the head of the Family Division of the High Court of Justice in England and Wales. The Family division was created in 1971, out of the former Admiralty Court and probate courts into the then Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division.As of 13 April 2010,...
.
Early life and career
Bracewell was born and raised in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, the daughter of Jack and Lillian Bracewell. Her father worked in textiles. She was a child actress in two comedy films made in Manchester in 1948, Cup-Tie Honeymoon
Cup-tie Honeymoon
Cup-Tie Honeymoon was the first motion picture to be filmed at the Dickenson Road Studios by the Mancunian Film Corporation in 1948, themed around football.-Plot summary:...
and Holidays with Pay
Holidays with Pay
Holidays with Pay is a 1948 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Tessie O'Shea and Dan Young. The Rogers go on a family holiday to Blackpool where they enjoy a series of adventures.-Cast:* Frank Randle - Jack Rogers...
. She after being educated mostly at home, she studied at Manchester University (LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
, LLM
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
).
She married jazz musician Roy Copeland in 1963. They had one son and one daughter together.
She was called to the Bar
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...
at 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...
in 1955, was in pupillage
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
at the Bar 1955-56 and a Member of the Northern Circuit
Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit dates from 1176 when Henry II sent his judges on circuit to do justice in his name. The Circuit encompassed the whole of the North of England but in 1876 it was divided. That part to the west of the Pennines retained the old name. The land to the east became the territory of...
from 1955 to 1990. She was a 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...
of the Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
between 1975 and 1983, and was appointed 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...
in 1978. She was a Circuit Judge on the Northern Circuit from 1983 to 1986, moving to the Western Circuit from 1986 to 1990.
Judicial career
In 1990, she became the fifth woman to be appointed as High Court judgeHigh Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
, after 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...
, Rose Heilbron
Rose Heilbron
Dame Rose Heilbron, DBE, QC was one of the outstanding barristers 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...
, Margaret Booth
Margaret Booth (judge)
Dame Margaret Myfanwy Wood Booth, DBE is a retired British judge.In January 1979, she became the third woman to be appointed as a High Court judge. Like her predecessors, Elizabeth Lane and Rose Heilbron, she was assigned to the Family Division.She retired from judicial office in 1994...
, and Elizabeth Butler-Sloss. As is customary, she was created Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE). She became well known as Hon. Mrs. Justice Bracewell.
She was largely responsible for drafting, and oversaw the introduction of, the Children Act 1989
Children Act 1989
The Children Act 1989 is a British Act of Parliament that altered the law in regard to children. In particular, it introduced the notion of parental responsibility. Later laws amended certain parts of the Children Act...
, and she served as Family Law Division Liaison Judge in the Royal Courts of Justice
Royal Courts of Justice
The Royal Courts of Justice, commonly called the Law Courts, is the building in London which houses the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the High Court of Justice of England and Wales...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
from 1990 to 1997, and was Chairman of the Children Act Advisory Committee from 1993 to 1997.
She was involved in many high-profile cases. In 2004, she was praised by Fathers4Justice as "one of the more enlightened members of the judiciary" after she gave a residence order to a father whose former wife repeatedly refused him access, in defiance of earlier court orders. In February 2006, she ruled that two children should live with their mother's former same-sex partner, after the mother took the children to live in a different county, in defiance of a shared residence order. Her order was upheld by the Court of Appeal but overturned by the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
She was awarded an honorary LLD by Manchester University in 1991, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
in 1994. She was a consulting editor for Butterworth's Family Law Service from 1989 to her death, and editor in chief of The Family Court Practice from its first publication in 1993.
She died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, following a lengthy illness.