 She became a Recorder in the Crown Court in 1978, and a circuit judge in 1983.She served on the Mental Health Review Tribunal from 1975 to 1983, and on the Parole Board from 1989 to 1992.She was appointed a High Court judge in 1992, becoming the sixth female High Court judge after Elizabeth Lane, Rose Heilbron, Margaret Booth, Elizabeth Butler-Sloss and Joyanne Bracewell.