Martha Spurrier (born 1986) is a British barrister and human rights campaigner. She was the director of the advocacy group Liberty from 2016 to 2024.[1][2]
Martha Spurrier | |
|---|---|
 Spurrier in 2016 | |
| Born | 1986 (age 37–38) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Godolphin and Latymer School |
| Alma mater | Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge |
| Occupation(s) | Barrister, human rights campaigner, former director of Liberty |
| Spouse | Jesse Nicholls |
Early life
editSpurrier was educated at Godolphin and Latymer School in London, and then at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where she graduated with a BA (Hons) in history.[1][3] She took a law conversion course at City University London, and then the bar professional training course at BPP University.[3]
Career
editBefore joining Liberty from June 2016, Spurrier worked as a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, of which she remains an associate tenant.[3][4] She is the author of Freedom to Write: A User's Guide (English PEN, 2012).[4]
In 2015, she was one of the three joint founders of the "Act for the Act" campaign (with Caoilfhionn Gallagher and Fiona Bawdon), a crowdfunded advertising campaign to tell positive stories about the Human Rights Act 1998.[5][6]
She took up her post at Liberty at the end of May 2016, taking over from Shami Chakrabarti.[7] She was replaced as director by Akiko Hart in January 2024.[2]
In July 2018, Spurrier was awarded the "Hero Award" at the 20th Annual ISPA[a 1] Awards by the ISPA Council for challenging the Investigatory Powers Act in the High Court.[8]
Personal life
editShe is married to fellow barrister Jesse Nicholls.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b Bowcott, Owen (31 March 2016). "Liberty names barrister Martha Spurrier as new director". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Akiko Hart takes over from Martha Spurrier as permanent Director of Liberty" (Press release). Liberty. 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Isaac, Anna (8 June 2016). "Martha Spurrier, head of Liberty: 'Human rights will be the fight of our generation'". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Martha Spurrier (Associate)". Doughty Street Chambers. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (19 October 2015). "Ad campaign aims to rally support to save Human Rights Act". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Carter, Oliver (15 September 2016). "'Dangerous territory' for human rights: Martha Spurrier in conversation with Helena Kennedy". The Justice Gap. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Liberty names barrister Martha Spurrier as new director". BBC News. 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Martha Spurrier, Director of Liberty, crowned Internet Hero as Gigaclear picks up two awards at the 20th Annual ISPA Awards". ISPA UK. 13 July 2018. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ^ Croft, Anne (14 November 2016). "Liberty chief condemns 'irresponsible rhetoric' on Brexit". Financial Times.
Footnotes
edit- ^ Internet Services Providers’ Association
External links
edit- Martha Spurrier on Liberty's official website
- Martha Spurrier at The Guardian
- "'Human Rights and Access to Justice in a Post-Brexit World': Martha Spurrier (Liberty)", Cambridge Pro Bono Project, 15 November 2017.
- "Q&A with Liberty's Martha Spurrier", Luminate, 21 April 2022.