The Rt Hon the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, visited Cathays High School on Wednesday 4 February 2026 to speak with students about the rule of law in society as part of the judiciary’s schools engagement programme.
The programme aims to help young people develop a clearer understanding of the justice system and promote a wider awareness of the importance of the rule of law. The Lady Chief Justice was accompanied by His Honour Judge Paul Hopkins (Senior Circuit Judge and Designated Family Judge for Wales) and District Judge Victoria Becquer‑Moreno, who both sit at Cardiff Civil Justice Centre.
The visit involved discussions between the judges and students from the school’s Seren programme. This included conversations about the judges’ work, insights into judicial careers, and a collaborative Q&A session which addressed judicial independence, the rule of law and the broader responsibilities of the judiciary.
Commenting on the visit, The Lady Chief Justice said:
“The rule of law is fundamental to an open and fair society. Every day, judges make decisions which affect people’s lives and their livelihoods, but most people have little idea of what goes on unless they find themselves in the system.
“Through visits such as this, and the judiciary’s schools engagement programme, I want to emphasise to students that judges come from all walks of life, and send a message to you all, whatever your background, that you could be the lawyers and judges of the future.”
Deputy Headteacher, James Taylor, said:
“The students at Cathays High School were very much looking forward to meeting the Lady Chief Justice in our school. It was a privilege to host such a distinguished guest, and a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet Baroness Carr in person. A number of our students who have shown a keen interest in pursuing a career in law were excited to gain an insight into the legal profession from such a renowned figure.”
The schools engagement programme forms part of the judiciary’s diversity and inclusion outreach work, underpinned by the recently launched five-year strategy. There are online resources available to schools and students. These include notes for lessons, fact sheets, and other resources to help schools facilitate learning about the justice system and rule of law.
Schools wanting to know more, or wishing to invite a judge to speak to students, can visit the schools engagement page on our site or email schools@judiciary.uk.
This visit came after the Lady Chief Justice gave evidence to the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff Monday 2 February 2026. Read more about her evidence to the Senedd on the judiciary.uk website.
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