Report comment

'In the US, you have Justice Clarence Thomas, who made it all the way to the Supreme Court'

That is a terrible example. He is almost universally regarded as the worst lawyer ever to have been appointed to that body. His judgements are a disgrace. He was a purely political appointment and always votes accordingly. He is also absolutely opposed to any form of quotas or positive discrimination in any form.
Private sector law is generally relatively meritocratic in my experience. I select the top 30 CVs for my firm's interviews. If all else is equal I do choose the ethnic minority candidate as often I recognise their route to academic achievement may well have been harder.
But much like I don't care about the colour of the surgeon's skin when he operated on my 10 year old and took out his appendix last month, I don't want judges appointed because they are BME over better non-BME candidates. I want excellent judges irrespective of skin colour. I don't want Constance Briscoe over Jonathan Sumption, sorry,