Law School alumna MP Joanna Cherry receives legal honour for work in Parliament
Tue 23 July 2019
SNP MP and alumna of the Edinburgh Law School, Joanna Cherry, was last week elected an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple, one of four Inns of Court in London.
The Masters of the Bench (Benchers) are elected by peers from the Inn’s members who have been called to the bar. Honorary Masters of the Bench are elected from other professions where individuals have excelled.
The prestigious honour was awarded to the QC in recognition of her work in Parliament and was supported by fellow lawyers, notably former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve QC and David Anderson QC, the latter citing Cherry’s “excellence as a lawyer” and “strong commitment to justice for all” as the reasons for her award.
On being elected an Honorary Bencher, Cherry said: “I am honoured to receive this recognition of my work in Parliament and at the bar.
“While Scotland has its own separate legal system, there have always been strong fraternal links between the Scottish and English bar. The transition from law to politics is challenging and I have been greatly assisted by the support of friends old and new at both the Scottish and English bars.”