Constance Briscoe
Encyclopedia
Constance Briscoe LL.B, MA
(born 18 May 1957) is a barrister
and one of Britain's first black female Recorder
s.
Born to two Jamaica
ns who settled in the United Kingdom
in the 1950s, she was one of six children. Briscoe studied Law
at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
, financing her studies by having several jobs at weekends and during the holidays, including working with the terminally ill in a hospice. She took an MA
at the University of Warwick
. She was called to the Bar
in 1983, and in 1996 became a Recorder
, a part time judge - one of the first black women to sit as a judge in the UK. Briscoe's legal practice focuses on criminal law and fraud, principally defending. She also undertakes tribunal work, public inquiries, inquests and acts as President of Mental Health Tribunals.
In the late 1990s, Briscoe was unsuccessfully nominated for a peerage
. In 2007 she applied to be made a QC
but was turned down.
She is known for her books Ugly and Beyond Ugly in which she claims she was abused as a child and she often talks about her experiences publicly. Her mother, Carmen Briscoe-Mitchell, sued her daughter along with publishers Hodder & Stoughton
for libel. The case was concluded in Briscoe's favour, when a civil jury in the High Court
unanimously found that the books were not libellous.
She has admitted to having facial and other cosmetic surgery due to her self perception of being ugly.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(born 18 May 1957) is a barrister
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...
and one of Britain's first black female 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...
s.
Born to two Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
ns who settled in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1950s, she was one of six children. Briscoe studied Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle University is a major research-intensive university located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the north-east of England. It was established as a School of Medicine and Surgery in 1834 and became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne by an Act of Parliament in August 1963. Newcastle University is...
, financing her studies by having several jobs at weekends and during the holidays, including working with the terminally ill in a hospice. She took an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
. She was called to the Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1983, and in 1996 became 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...
, a part time judge - one of the first black women to sit as a judge in the UK. Briscoe's legal practice focuses on criminal law and fraud, principally defending. She also undertakes tribunal work, public inquiries, inquests and acts as President of Mental Health Tribunals.
In the late 1990s, Briscoe was unsuccessfully nominated for a peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. In 2007 she applied to be made a 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...
but was turned down.
She is known for her books Ugly and Beyond Ugly in which she claims she was abused as a child and she often talks about her experiences publicly. Her mother, Carmen Briscoe-Mitchell, sued her daughter along with publishers Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
for libel. The case was concluded in Briscoe's favour, when a civil jury in the High Court
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...
unanimously found that the books were not libellous.
Personal life
Briscoe lives in Clapham with her two children, Martin and Francesca Carmen. Her partner is Tony Arlidge QC.She has admitted to having facial and other cosmetic surgery due to her self perception of being ugly.