*/
The percentage of female judges has risen and women make up more than half of the judiciary aged under 40, figures revealed.
The annual statistics from the Judicial Diversity Committee of the Judges’ Council showed that the percentage of female judges increased from 25% in April to 28% in April 2016. In tribunals it remained stable at 45%.
More than half (51%) of the 85 court judges under 40 years of age are women and in tribunals 64% of the 56 judges aged under 40 are women.
The number of female circuit judges rose from 146 (23%) in April 2015 to 160 (26%) in April 2016, but women still struggle to break into the most senior appointments. In the Court of Appeal eight of the 39 (21%) judges are female and 22 (21%) of the 106 High Court judges are women.
The percentage of judges from ethnic minority backgrounds fell from 6% to 5% in the courts and remained at 9% in tribunals.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, said it was ‘encouraging’ that the overall percentage of female judges in courts has increased, but that it was ‘an area of concern’ that there had been no improvement in either courts or tribunals in the total percentage of judges from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The judiciary, he said, ‘must be truly open to everyone of the requisite ability’ and he hoped that the initiatives being pursued would increase diversity.
The percentage of female judges has risen and women make up more than half of the judiciary aged under 40, figures revealed.
The annual statistics from the Judicial Diversity Committee of the Judges’ Council showed that the percentage of female judges increased from 25% in April to 28% in April 2016. In tribunals it remained stable at 45%.
More than half (51%) of the 85 court judges under 40 years of age are women and in tribunals 64% of the 56 judges aged under 40 are women.
The number of female circuit judges rose from 146 (23%) in April 2015 to 160 (26%) in April 2016, but women still struggle to break into the most senior appointments. In the Court of Appeal eight of the 39 (21%) judges are female and 22 (21%) of the 106 High Court judges are women.
The percentage of judges from ethnic minority backgrounds fell from 6% to 5% in the courts and remained at 9% in tribunals.
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, said it was ‘encouraging’ that the overall percentage of female judges in courts has increased, but that it was ‘an area of concern’ that there had been no improvement in either courts or tribunals in the total percentage of judges from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The judiciary, he said, ‘must be truly open to everyone of the requisite ability’ and he hoped that the initiatives being pursued would increase diversity.
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Developing a tech start-up demands a different definition of excellence to the Bar, says Saara Idelbi. The co-creator of Advocatr on entrepreneurship, AI advocacy training, and matching the thrill of a killer cross-examination
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
