QC calls for urgent action on judicial diversity
updated on 31 July 2017
Following publication of the 2017 Judicial Diversity Statistics, the Chair of the Bar Council's Equality and Diversity Committee, Robin Allen QC, has demanded there be greater action on judicial diversity.
Despite the cheering news that Baroness Hale is to become the first female head of the Supreme Court in October this year, the report shows that there is still much to be done in terms of ensuring a diverse range of judges in the United Kingdom. Allen said: “The progress made in recruiting more female judges is to be welcomed; but there is an urgent need to increase the number of part-time salaried posts which offer a useful combination of certainty and flexibility for the large number of lawyers with caring responsibilities. Likewise the progress in recruiting Asian High Court judges is important.”
He continued: “On the other hand, the lack of progress in recruiting any black British judges to the High Court and more senior courts, and only a very tiny percentage in the Crown Court, is unrepresentative of diverse modern Britain. If this is not put right soon, it will undermine the trust in the principle of equality before and under the law. Urgent action is needed.”
