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Two of the most senior judges expressed concern at the lack of diversity among judges.
‘Despite the leadership that has been demonstrated over the last year, progress is not as fast as we would wish,’ the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, and the Senior President of Tribunals, Sir Ernest Ryder, said in a statement accompanying the annual statistics for the make-up of the bench.
The figures showed that from April 2014 to April 2017, the percentage of female judges has increased from 18% to 24% in the Court of Appeal; 18% to 22% in the High Court and 24% to 28% in the courts judiciary.
While the percentage of black and minority ethnic (BAME) judges had increased from 6% to 7%, the judges said it was ‘disappointing’ that the percentage of non-barristers dropped from 37% to 34%.
In tribunals in the last four years the proportion of female judges rose from 43% to 45%, and the percentage of BAME judges increased from 9% to 10%, but the proportion of judges with a non-barrister background fell from 67% to 66% between 2015 and 2017.
The two senior judges said: ‘We remain very concerned about the slow recruitment of BAME judges and the downward trend of new non-barrister (solicitors and legal executives) judges, despite the dedicated work undertaken by the Judicial Diversity Committee.’
Two of the most senior judges expressed concern at the lack of diversity among judges.
‘Despite the leadership that has been demonstrated over the last year, progress is not as fast as we would wish,’ the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas, and the Senior President of Tribunals, Sir Ernest Ryder, said in a statement accompanying the annual statistics for the make-up of the bench.
The figures showed that from April 2014 to April 2017, the percentage of female judges has increased from 18% to 24% in the Court of Appeal; 18% to 22% in the High Court and 24% to 28% in the courts judiciary.
While the percentage of black and minority ethnic (BAME) judges had increased from 6% to 7%, the judges said it was ‘disappointing’ that the percentage of non-barristers dropped from 37% to 34%.
In tribunals in the last four years the proportion of female judges rose from 43% to 45%, and the percentage of BAME judges increased from 9% to 10%, but the proportion of judges with a non-barrister background fell from 67% to 66% between 2015 and 2017.
The two senior judges said: ‘We remain very concerned about the slow recruitment of BAME judges and the downward trend of new non-barrister (solicitors and legal executives) judges, despite the dedicated work undertaken by the Judicial Diversity Committee.’
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
