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United Kingdom's First Asian Female High Court Judge
CAROLINE DAVIES
United Kingdom’s High Court has appointed its first Asian female judge, barrister Parmjit (“Bobbie”) Kaur Bobbie Cheema-Grubb, QC, who has been assigned to the Queen’s Bench division.
Described by her chambers, 2 Hare Court, as “a wonderful performer in court” and “quietly brilliant” outside court, Parmjit recently prosecuted the case of Peter Ball, a retired bishop who was jailed for sexually abusing aspiring priests 22 years after allegations first came to light.
Her chambers biography reads: “Her well-deserved reputation for hard work and an astute tactical sense make her, for many, the first choice for the most serious criminal trials and quasi-criminal public law work.”
It says she has a special interest in scientific development in the field of criminal justice.
The 49-year-old was called to the bar in 1989 and took silk in 2013. She was appointed as a recorder in 2007 and is also approved to sit as a deputy high court judge.
In 2009 the Legal 500, a clients’ guide to law firms, praised her as “an excellent role model for the new breed of barristers who need to be team players”.
Parmjit will take up her post shortly in November.
[Courtesy: The Guardian. Edited for sikhchic.com]
October 27, 2015
Conversation about this article
1: Harmeet Singh (United States), October 27, 2015, 10:37 AM.
How/why is she being referred to as Asian?
2: Jessie Kaur (New Delhi, India), October 27, 2015, 12:39 PM.
It is preposterous, isn't it, that WE allow others to refer to us as Asians, while in the same media, the term stands for Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, etc. No wonder we don't even get counted, we don't even matter. You may want to read the following article published in these very pages on sikhchic.com: http://www.sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?cat=33&id=1242
3: Rupinderpal Dhiilon (London, United Kingdom), October 27, 2015, 4:39 PM.
In UK Asian does not mean Japanese or Chinese ... it specifically means India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka. Not saying it's good, but that is how it is. Elsewhere, including in OZ, Asian specifically means Oriental people.
4: Tony Singh (Canada), October 27, 2015, 7:53 PM.
People from the Indian subcontinent are referred to as "Asians" in England. In Canada, we are referred to as South Asians or Indo-Canadians. Maybe we are referred to by another name in the US?
5: Kirandeep Kaur (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada), October 27, 2015, 10:36 PM.
Reading all the comments above, I see all the more reason we should insist on calling ourselves Sikhs, and be referred to by others as such. Everywhere, anywhere. Brits don't call themselves Europeans, or the Israelis Middle-Easterners!
6: Hardev Singh (Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada), October 28, 2015, 1:33 AM.
First and foremost, Parmjit Kaur, congratulations on your appointment as a judge in Britain. The Sikh community in particular has every reason to be proud of your distinguished achievement.