The President's article in the Gazette last week demonstrates how badly solicitors in general, and black and ethnic minority solicitors in particular, fare in the current judicial appointments system. In fact, the Judicial Appointments Commission's (JAC) own annual report suggests that solicitors are doing worse now than under the old system.


The failures of the JAC were already apparent to the Black Solicitors Network (BSN), which has established a subcommittee to address the issue of judicial appointments. We have met the Society of Asian Lawyers and the Society of Black Lawyers, who have similar concerns.



The groups have been working closely together and hope to meet the Minister of Justice to look into the failings identified and ensure that the JAC becomes a body in which all members of the legal profession can have confidence. The public cannot be expected to have confidence in a justice system where the appointments regime excludes the majority of the legal profession and a judiciary that does not reflect the society it is meant to serve.



In the meantime, the BSN invites comments from black and ethnic minority solicitors about their own experiences of both the old and new appointments system. Any information will be treated in strict confidence.



Cordella Bart-Stewart, Vice-Chair, Black Solicitors Network