Top Judge: Diversity Boost Needed in Judiciary

The president of the supreme court, Lord Neuberger, has said that without changes, the shortage of women and ethnic minorities on the bench would take too long to rectify.

24.5% of court judges are women, despite them making up 50.9% of the population (according to the 2011 census). Similarly, 5.8% of court judges are from ethnic backgrounds, despite ethnic minorities making up 14% of the population. Moreover, of the 12 justices on the supreme court, only one is a woman.

Neuberger suggested that a fast-track option could resolve the issue but added, “It's important to make sure others coming from a more traditional career aren't then overlooked. But the thing that the judiciary needs to do is go out and encourage more people generally to consider being a judge as an option for them.”

He also identified law firms refusing to release staff so that they gain experience as judges as a barrier to improving diversity. “I have heard stories of solicitors who wanted to start sitting as judges and were then frozen out of various roles and opportunities at the law firms they worked for: they were asked to stand down as head of department or were taken off management committees.”

Neuberger’s comments will reignite the debate over how to ensure the judiciary reflects the make-up of the UK’s society.

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