With great power: UK Supreme Court chief judge’s #spiderbrooch goes viral

President of the Supreme Court Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, readS the court's judgement in central London on September 24, 2019 on the legality of Boris Johnson's advice to the Queen to prorogue  parliament for more than a month. UK Supreme Court/AFP

LONDON — Her words had huge implications, but for many social media users watching the president of Britain's Supreme Court rule Tuesday on the suspension of parliament, it was all about her spider brooch.

Judge Brenda Hale delivered the court's damning verdict against Prime Minister Boris Johnson with a huge glittery spider pinned to her right shoulder.

"I really hope that spider doesn't get Lady Hale before she announces it," commented comedian Tiernan Douieb as the court president began her ruling.

The jewelry swiftly obtained its own Twitter account, @spiderbrooch1, while a black t-shirt with a silver spider design started selling on eBay.

We should all aspire to be Baroness Hale ruling on the future of the UK in a giant diamante spider brooch pic.twitter.com/YDofLo8Q9l

— Max Ramsay (@maxramsay) September 24, 2019

I"m terrified the spider is going to suddenly spring to life just as Lady Hale reaches her final verdict.

— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) September 24, 2019

Spider-Gran
Spider-Gran
Rules unlawful
Whenever she can

Parliament
You can't prorogue
Lady Hale and her Spider brooch

Look out!

Here comes the Spider-Gran pic.twitter.com/VJNbZgvY1G

— Jack Kirby-Lowe (@jackkirby) September 24, 2019

?????Ladies: Read her bio!
One Impressive woman!
One amazing role model

I shall be talking about her to my granddaughter tomorrow
Add a #spider to your bio!?????

We are all #spiderwomen!https://t.co/I7jZ7cjDEh

"Lady Hale" #SupremeCourtuk #prorogationunlawful

— ?????carol hedges (@carolJhedges) September 24, 2019

Lot of people talking about Baroness Hale's 'spider brooch' when that spider is in fact the head of the Surpreme Court, and the woman speaking is his familiar. Didn't any of you do Constitutional Law?

— Mike Bird (@Birdyword) September 24, 2019

You know the way the Queen's brooches are supposed to be a subtle commentary? Is Lady Hale's spider a) a suggestion that she will crush Boris like a bug or b) an acknowledgement that with great power comes great responsibility?

— Helen O’Hara (@HelenLOHara) September 24, 2019

Due to the unprecedented response. We've put this on ebay. It's £10. 30% goes to Shelter. Made with love in Uxbridge. https://t.co/Vll69ZU8kB https://t.co/RawuCoF3DO

— Balcony Shirts (@balconyshirts) September 24, 2019

I do like the spider brooch, but I still think this is the best Lady Hale brooch (bonus points for potentially just being a stray caterpillar ????) pic.twitter.com/GmgtH2fsnR

— Dr Charlotte Lydia Riley (@lottelydia) September 24, 2019

Can we not lose sight of what's important here: what an absolute brooch icon Lady Hale is pic.twitter.com/I0IAx4TE3M

— Ed Brody (@chiefbrody1984) September 24, 2019

Others commented on what hidden messages the judge might be trying to relay, citing the Walter Scott quote: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

"Lady Hale demonstrating the potential for vast novelistic sub-narratives offered by a correctly chosen brooch. What a tangled web we weave, indeed," tweeted writer Anne Louise Avery.

Regular attendees of the Supreme Court noted it was not the first time Hale had worn an eye-catching brooch, having previously sported jewelry featuring a caterpillar, a butterfly and a frog.

Asked about the interest, a court spokeswoman told AFP: "Lady Hale has a small collection of brooches given to her and purchased herself."

Hale announced the unanimous verdict of 11 Supreme Court judges, that Johnson's decision to suspend parliament in the run-up to Brexit was unlawful.

Hale, who has worked as an academic lawyer and a High Court judge, was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009, becoming the court's first female judge. — Agence France-Presse