Her Honour Anne Molyneux MBE has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Royal Holloway, University of London, recognising her remarkable career in law at a degree ceremony for the School of Law and Social Sciences on 12 July 2023.

Molyneux has had an exemplary legal career, culminating in her appointment as a Senior Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court, otherwise known as the Old Bailey, in 2017.

First seeking a legal career when she was just five years old, Anne was admitted as a solicitor in 1983, going on to become a partner and Head of Department in an international law firm based in central London, where she practised property litigation and competition law.

Determined to break down barriers – Anne was the first woman at her firm to give birth and return to her legal career following maternity leave.

She made further strides in her legal career when she was appointed as a Recorder in 2000, a Member of the Parole Board from 2000-2007 and a Circuit Judge in 2007. Anne was a Diversity Community Relations Judge from 2009-2022; as well as a Judicial Member of the Parole Board from 2010-2019.

After recognition for her judicial skill, Anne was elevated to the Senior Courts. First as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2013; followed by her appointment as an Additional Judge of the Court of Appeal – dealing with criminal cases - from 2016-2021 and Senior Circuit Judge at the Old Bailey in 2017.

She specialised in the trial of serious criminal cases at the Old Bailey and passed on her knowledge as a Director of Training for the Judicial College in the trial of serious sexual offences. She is a member of the Law Society, an Honorary Bencher of the Inner Temple, where she serves as a member of the Education and Training Committee, and, since 2020, is founding Chair of the Royal Holloway School of Law and Social Sciences Advisory Board.