A former Old Bailey judge is set to visit Ely for the launch of her new book, Rough Justice.

Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC will be at Toppings in Ely on September 5 to discuss her book and her experiences in the country's most prolific court as a murder trial judge.

Rough Justice reconstructs courtroom dramas involving society's "most vulnerable".

Some of the dramas include the trial of a child charged with disposing of dismembered body parts and a woman accused of killing her own husband.

Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC sat as a judge at the Old Bailey until March 22. She tried mainly allegations of murder and other homicide. 

Joseph is no stranger to Cambridgeshire, as she read English and Law at the University of Cambridge. 

In 1975 she was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 1975 and she then became a QC in 1998. She sat as a full-time judge from 2007 to 2022. 

Joseph moved to the Old Bailey in 2012 and was the only woman amongst 16 judges, and was the only third woman ever to hold a permanent position there.

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Throughout the cases in Rough Justice, Joseph writes about how our justice system works. She compares modern cases with miscarriages of justice from years ago, and draws on whether lessons have been learnt inside the court.

The book focuses on the struggles of getting caught up in the legal system, especially if you are marginalised or easily exploited.

In her time as a judge, Joseph was a Diversity and Community Relations Judge who worked to help the understanding between the justice system and different sectors of the community, particularly those from less privileged and minority groups.

Now, she mentors young people from a variety of backgrounds who hope for a career in law. She also has a special interest in helping women.

Tickets for Joseph's visit are available on the Toppings website here.