Education
Swift was educated at Street Aidan"s College, Durham University (England) where she was the President of the Durham Union Society.
Swift was educated at Street Aidan"s College, Durham University (England) where she was the President of the Durham Union Society.
Mrs Justice Swift, was leading counsel to the Inquiry in the Shipman Inquiry, which began in 2001. She was called to the Bar, Inner Temple in 1977. The following year she began practising on the Northern Circuit, later becoming Assistant Recorder from 1992 until 1995, and Queen's Counsel in 1993.
She became a Recorder in 1995, a Bencher in 1997.
On 4 November 2005, Swift was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire upon her appointment as a Justice of the High Court (Queens Bench Division). Her husband, Peter Openshaw, is also a High Court Judge, and was sworn in on the same day.
