Caroline Swift
British judge

Caroline Swift

The basics
Quick facts
Intro
British judge
Gender:
Female
Work field:
Birth:
30 May 1955
The details
Biography

Dame Caroline Jane Swift, Lady Openshaw, DBE (born 30 May 1955), styled The Hon. Mrs Justice Swift, was leading counsel to the Inquiry in the Shipman Inquiry, which began in 2001.
Swift was educated at St Aidan's College, Durham University (England) where she was the President of the Durham Union Society. She was called to the Bar, Inner Temple in 1977. The following year she began practising on the Northern Circuit, later becoming Assistant Recorder from 1992 until 1995, and QC in 1993. She became a Recorder in 1995, a Bencher in 1997.
On 4 November 2005, Swift was created a DBE upon her appointment as a Justice of the High Court (Queens Bench Division). Her husband, Sir Peter Openshaw, is also a High Court Judge, and was sworn in on the same day.