By Anita Rice


Groups representing ethnic minority lawyers have slammed the Judicial Appointments Commission's (JAC) diversity record, claiming the chances of appointment for minority lawyers are 'worse than ever', the Gazette has learned.



Members of the Society of Asian Lawyers (SAL), the Black Solicitors Network and the Society of Black Lawyers presented three reports to justice minister Bridget Prentice on 1 April, claiming that the appointment of judges 'is badly skewed in favour of white, middle-class males from public schools'.



The reports, commissioned by the representative groups, have also been passed on to the Lord Chancellor.



SAL chairman Sailesh Mehta told the Gazette: 'My members think what has been happening since the JAC was set up appears to be a backward step. None of us were happy with the Derry Irvine "tap on the shoulder" years, but at least he tried to ensure fairness.'



The groups say the reports detail 'serious and serial' failings by the JAC, including 'restricting, as opposed to promoting, diversity', 'giving in to the wishes of the senior judiciary by re-launching and re-conducting competitions', and 'relaxing requirements for making appointments in order to allow applicants who fit the establishment profile to be appointed'.



A JAC spokeswoman said: 'Our processes are open and fair and we strongly refute the suggestion that they are not, or that we are in the judges' - or anyone else's - pocket.'



She added the Lord Chancellor sets the criteria for all appointments.



An MoJ spokesman said: 'Work continues as normal along the trilateral judicial diversity strategy between the MoJ, the JAC and the judiciary.'



The JAC will meet the representative groups on 30 April to discuss the issues raised.