Caroline Swift

{{Short description|British barrister and former High Court judge}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Dame Caroline Swift

| honorific-suffix = DBE

| image = Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom (St. Edward's Crown).svg

| imagesize = 150px

| caption = Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1955|05|30}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| restingplace =

| birthname = Caroline Jane Swift

| nationality = British

| spouse = Peter Openshaw

| residence =

| alma_mater = St Aidan's College, Durham

| occupation = Judge

| profession = Barrister

| office = Justice of the High Court

| term_start = 2005

| term_end = 2015

}}

Dame Caroline Jane Swift, Lady Openshaw, {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DBE|size=100}} (born 30 May 1955),{{cite web|title=Birthday's today|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-30.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530160907/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2013-5-30.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 May 2013|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=28 May 2014|date=30 May 2013|quote=Mrs Justice Swift, 58}} formerly styled The Hon. Mrs Justice Swift, is a British barrister and former High Court judge. She was leading counsel to the Inquiry in the Shipman Inquiry, which began in 2001.[http://www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk/shipman/march98/s/81/81945_introduction.html Tameside Advertiser] article Shipman Inquiry counsel Caroline Swift QC published 16 July 2002; accessed 7 June 2007.

Swift was educated at St Aidan's College, Durham University[http://www.burkespeerage.com/FamilyHomepage.aspx?FID=13300 Profile], burkespeerage.com; accessed 29 March 2016. where she was the President of the Durham Union Society. She was called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1977. The following year she began practising on the Northern Circuit, later becoming Assistant Recorder from 1992 until 1995, and QC in 1993. She became a Recorder in 1995, and was elected a Bencher of the Inner Temple in 1997.[http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page8467.asp "DBE Appointment of Caroline Swift QC and Julia Macur QC"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201201151/http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page8467.asp |date=December 1, 2008 }}, pm.gov.uk; published 4 November 2005; accessed 7 June 2007.

On 4 November 2005, Swift was created a DBE upon her appointment as a Justice of the High Court (Queen's Bench Division). Her husband, Sir Peter Openshaw, is also a High Court Judge, and was sworn in on the same day."{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/4297694.stm |title=Married judges make legal history |work=BBC News |date=30 September 2005 |accessdate=7 July 2017}}

Swift retired from the High Court on 1 August 2015.{{cite press release |url=https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/announcements/high-court-retirement-of-the-honourable-dame-caroline-jane-swift-dbe/ |title=High Court: Retirement of The Honourable Dame Caroline Jane Swift DBE |website=www.judiciary.gov.uk |date=1 August 2015 |accessdate=7 July 2017}} From 1 January 2017 Swift was appointed to the position of chair of the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.{{cite press release|url=http://www.mpts-uk.org/about/news/11160.asp |title=High Court judge made new chair of doctors' tribunal service |publisher=Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service |date=31 August 2016 |accessdate=8 July 2017}}