Record number of women judges

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has announced that the highest ever number of women are being employed as High Court judges. The JAC says that of the 22 High Court judges recommended for appointment this year, five are women. Of the 129 applicants for 22 posts, 11 were women, representing a nearly 50% success rate. Baroness Prasher, chairman of the JAC, expressed delight at the high proportion of successful applicants. “Our strenuous efforts are beginning to show results, we expect the composition of the senior judges will gradually reflect society more closely,” she says.