Lawyer of the Week: Phillippa Kaufman
Interview by Linda Tsang
http://timesonline.typepad.com/law/2009/09/lawyer-of-the-week-phillippa-kaufman.html (http://timesonline.typepad.com/law/2009/09/lawyer-of-the-week-phillippa-kaufman.html)
Phillippa Kaufman, of Doughty Street Chambers, acted for a transsexual convicted killer who was born a man but has had her womanhood recognised by law and her birth certificate amended. The High Court ruled that she be transferred to a woman's prison.
What were the main challenges in this case and the possible implications?
The main challenge was prejudice, of which happily the judge displayed none. Her case was overwhelming: she is, as a matter of law, a woman for all purposes yet no other woman presenting her risk would be held in the male estate.