A new Judicial and Legal Diversity Board has been launched, co-chaired by the Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor. The board met for the first time on Thursday 21 May and brings together representatives from across the legal sector including the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Bar Council, the Law Society, CILEx, the Legal Services Board, the Judicial Office and the Ministry of Justice.
Commenting on the launch, Chair of the Bar Council Kirsty Brimelow KC said:
“It is absolutely right that improving judicial diversity is a priority for the Lord Chancellor and Lady Chief Justice and we’re pleased that the Bar Council is part of the new board. Progress on judicial diversity, particularly in relation to Black candidates and disabled candidates, has been far too slow for too long. The board must be focused in ensuring that there is support and investment so that our judiciary reflects the diverse communities we live in. Of course, the ultimate representation of diverse judges of evidence is juries. They work very effectively every day, and their reduction would be a backward step.
“While the board undertakes its detailed work, we hope lawyers from under-represented backgrounds interested in a judicial career will take advantage of practical programmes available such as the pre-application judicial education (PAJE) programme which has just opened for the next cohort.”