News

Law and the Community: Cherie Booth delivers 2004 Borderlands' Lecture in Durham

(5 February 2004)

The law must be more open to "consumers" and "practitioners" - Ms.Cherie Booth QC told a packed audience at the 2004 St John's Borderlands' Lecture delivered at Durham University last night (5 Feb 04).

In a wide-ranging lecture (entitled Justice: A Personal and Communal Challenge) Ms.Booth looked in turn and in depth at legal justice, community justice and justice in the wider world.

Speaking in the Appleby Lecture Theatre, Ms Booth said that she wanted to see people "doing" law from as diverse a range of backgrounds as those who are subject to it. Law should not just be the preserve of "middle class white men."

Ms.Booth said it was alarming that whilst almost 50% of law students are female - only one sixth of the judiciary are women. The number of ethnic minorities practising law was "minute."

Borderlands is a project initiated by St.John's College, within the University of Durham, and embraces a series of contacts between theological thinking and a wide range of academic subjects.

A lecture is given every year at which a prominent speaker is asked to deliver a lecture with the Borderlands' concept in mind.

Ms.Booth, a practising Roman Catholic, pinpointed the importance of human rights. She told the audience that whilst human rights were always thought of as something concerning people in other countries - they had a local dimension as well.

She said a concern for global human rights grows out of the local community where healthcare, schools and meeting the needs of those with disabilities were just some of the key issues relating to justice.

Faced with several questions about some human rights issues facing her husband's Government, Ms.Booth stressed the need for a balance between individual human rights (which were, of course, important) and the human rights of others in a context of social responsibility.

The Principal of St.John's College, Professor Stephen Sykes, thanked Ms.Booth for her time and contribution and said that everyone associated with the Borderlands' project was immensely grateful for her thought-provoking contribution.

5th February 2004

Picture: (left to right) Bishop Stephen Sykes, Principal of St John's College, Durham; Ms. Cherie Booth QC; Sir Kenneth Calman, Vice Chancellor of Durham University

Please contact Marek Kolodziej marek33rpm@aol.com in the St.John's College Media Office 01274-599622.