High Court launches support scheme to increase diversity among its judges

The High Court has launched a new initiative to improve the diversity of its judges by supporting and mentoring people from "non-traditional backgrounds".

The scheme is currently in its pilot stage and aims to appoint excellent lawyers and legal academics with no previous experience as deputy High Court judges. As reported by The Guardian, the initiative will focus on the promotion of women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds and white candidates from less-privileged backgrounds, with this being defined through criteria such as going to a state school.

The selection process will still be based on merit and participation in the initiative does not guarantee a successful application. The scheme is being led by the Court of Appeal judge, Lady Justice Hallett. She said: "For the first time ever this July, the Judicial Appointments Commission will be running an exercise to appoint up to 14 people as deputy High Court judges without the need for them to sit as recorders [more junior judges] first. They may also have also have little or no experience of attending or appearing in the High Court - or any court for that matter - and the process of completing an application form and going through a selection process for judicial appointment may be completely alien to them - and quite frankly daunting. The judiciary are therefore offering a small number of top-quality candidates from diverse backgrounds, with no previous experience of judicial office, the opportunity to take part in a pilot programme of work-shadowing and mentoring to acquaint them with the culture and pace of the High Court and a workshop to prepare them for the selection exercise."