The report, Diversity of the judiciary: 2022 statistics, released this week, showed an increase in women, who now account for one third of court judges and half of tribunal judges. However, it also revealed troubling disparities in terms of ethnicity and professional background.
‘Solicitors now make up 45% of applications which demonstrates our members’ interest in judicial careers,’ I Stephanie Boyce, president of the Law Society, said.
‘However, solicitors only make up 27% of recommendations for appointment. Similarly, Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates represent 23% of applicants, but only 11% of recommendations for judicial posts.
‘There has also been a reduction in the proportion of judges from a solicitor background and no change in the proportion of black judges, which remained at 1% since 2014.’
Mark Fenhalls QC, chair of the Bar Council, said: ‘Until we understand why this is happening―whether there is a problem in the appointment process or whether the issue is experience of applicants, or both―we are going to struggle to address this significant problem.
‘The quality of data is improving, and this provides a welcome opportunity for more effective and targeted interventions by the professions, the JAC, and the judiciary. At the Bar, we are encouraging targets on diversity, through chambers-led diversity programmes and a series of projects to help nurture a more diverse pipeline of successful applicants.’
CILEX Chair Professor Chris Bones said the report ‘begs more questions than it answers, and, from CILEX’s perspective, this includes understanding why CILEX members, who comprise the most diverse part of the legal profession, only account for 1% of the applicants for judicial roles.
‘Opening up all judicial posts to CILEX members would be part of the solution and we look forward to supporting other positive steps to encourage and develop the broadest range of applicants successfully joining the judiciary.’
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