The changing face of criminal justice has been reflected by the appointment of barrister Katharine Moore as the first female criminal judge to permanently sit at Norwich Crown Court.

The married mother of two has worked as both a prosecution and defence barrister in Norfolk since the 1990s, and also sat regularly as a Recorder at Norwich Crown Court, before her appointment as a full-time criminal judge.

There was a special welcoming ceremony for her at the court to mark her elevation to the bench, in which Judge Stephen Holt, Honorary Recorder of Norwich, said they were 'so pleased' at her appointment and said: 'They are trying to change of profile of judges from the irascible, crusty old judge to the younger judge.'

He said they all welcomed the appointment of the 42-year-old barrister and said she had got the job 'very much on merit'.

He wished her all the best in her future career and added that they had 'got it right' with her appointment.

Leading barrister Michael Clare also gave a speech in which he said Judge Moore had joined Octagon House Chambers in 2000 and said it was 'no surprise' to those who had worked with her that she would be appointed as a judge.

He said to obtain the appointment she had many hoops to jump through, including exams.

Judge Moore thanked everyone for their support.

She said: 'I am delighted to be appointed.'

Judge Moore, who was brought up just outside Norwich, attended Norwich High School for Girls and studied for her law degree at Cambridge. She did her pupillage in London and was called to the Bar in 1995.

She has worked as a barrister at East Anglian Chambers, One Paper Building Chambers in London before joining Octagon House Chambers.

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