Equality: numbers of female and ethnic minority judges are rising, but firms can do more




The number of female and ethnic minority judges is on the increase, but law firms must do more to ensure progress on judicial diversity, a government minister said this week.



Speaking at a Law Society seminar aimed at encouraging solicitors to apply for judicial office, Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) minister Harriet Harman said the judiciary must reflect the population it served, or it would be too easy for the public to feel it was discriminatory.



But she added: 'Until the profession itself is more diverse, the scope for a more diverse judiciary is constrained.'



Research published this week revealed that, since 1999, the proportion of women appointed to judicial office has risen from 24% to 41%, which has taken the total percentage of women on the bench from 14% to 18%. However, they still account for less than 1% of the senior judiciary.



Over the same period, the number of black and ethnic minority judges appointed increased from 9% to 14%, and they now account for 4% of the bench.



'By mostly selecting judges from certain backgrounds, the justice system is missing out on a pool of people with the necessary talent and skills for judicial office,' said Ms Harman.



The minister confirmed that appointment should be based on merit, and ruled out the prospect of all-women short lists. However, she added that there would not be merit-based appointments if a whole range of people who would otherwise be considered are excluded.



She said the DCA has already changed the eligibility criteria and introduced initiatives such as salaried part-time sitting and career breaks to increase diversity, and in future former judges may be allowed to return to practise.



In a speech to the Association of Women Solicitors last week, Mrs Justice Dobbs said these measures made the job more attractive and suited to the needs of many women.



However, she said the main issue to be addressed by solicitors was to demonstrate to senior partners the benefits of having someone at the firm who sat as a judge.



Catherine Baksi