CONTINUED INCREASE IN MINORITY ETHNIC & FEMALE APPOINTMENTS

31 Jan 2006 01:45 PM

The number of women and people from minority ethnic groups appointed as judges and tribunal members in England and Wales continues to rise, to the point that there are almost twice as many as there were ten years ago.

The trend was confirmed by official figures published today by the Department for Constitutional Affairs, as Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer announced the appointments to the first ever district judge job-share.

Between 1 April 2004 and 30 September 2005, 549 appointments were made, of which 37 per cent were women and 12 per cent minority ethnic. In the six months since 1 April 2005 women have made up 46 per cent and minority ethnic groups 17 per cent of all appointments.

Lord Falconer said:

"Increasing diversity in the judiciary is one of my key priorities and I'm pleased to see the progress we have made reflected in this report. However, there is still more to do if we are to achieve a judiciary that better reflects the society it serves.

"In keeping with the theme of this annual report I am delighted to announce the appointments of two District Judges who will job-share. Alison Claire Rowley and Lorna Margaret Grosse will share the post of District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit. Increasing the flexibility of judicial service, such as through part-time working and job-sharing, is an important part of my programme to increase the diversity of our judiciary. These appointments show that such flexibility can make a real difference and I hope this will encourage others to consider a judicial career now that a job-share option is available.

"From 3 April 2006 the independent Judicial Appointments Commission will begin to select candidates for judicial appointments in England and Wales and will continue to build on the work of this department to make judicial appointments more open and transparent. It will have a statutory role in encouraging a wider range of applicants for judicial office, while maintaining the principle that selection for appointment is on merit alone."

Ordinarily the Judicial Appointments Annual Report covers a 12 month period (April - March). On this occasion it covers an 18-month period (1 April 2004 - 30 September 2005), including the most up-to-date figures possible.

The report also covers a number of important improvements to the appointments process, resulting from continued work with the judiciary and other relevant groups. Key improvements have included the introduction of competency-based selection for all appointments and pilots of assessment centre-based recruitment for Recorder and Employment Tribunal appointments.

The report shows that:

The percentage of women appointed was 37 per cent of the total number of appointments.

* For candidates appointed to legal posts, the average length of legal experience was 23 years.

* 99 per cent of judicial vacancies in courts were filled.

Notes to Editors

1. As mentioned in last year's Judicial Appointments Annual Report, a consultation paper, Increasing Diversity in the Judiciary was published in October 2004
(www.dca.gov.uk/consult/judiciary/diversitycp25-04.pdf). The paper sought to identify the barriers to greater diversity in the judiciary and invited suggestions on how they might be removed or minimised. Consultation closed on 21 January 2005, and just over 100 responses were received. The Summary of Responses is available on the DCA website (www.dca.gov.uk/consult/judiciary/responsecp25-04.pd).

2. In his speech to the Woman Lawyer Forum in London on 5 March 2005 the Lord Chancellor announced that, having considered the responses to the consultation exercise, he was putting in hand a Judicial Diversity Programme consisting of 16 individual projects.

3. In summary, the total number of appointments covering the 18 month period was:

12 Months
Appointments Total Male Female White Minority Unknown from 1 April Ethnic
2004 to March
2005
Total (23 335 232 103 302 30 3
Competitions)
Percentage 100 69 31 90 9 1

6 Months
Appointments Total Male Female White Minority Ethnic Unknown from1 April
2005 - 30
September
2005
Total (13 214 116 98 172 36 6
Competitions)
Percentage 100 54 46 80 17 3

18 Months
Total Total Male Female White Minority Ethnic Unknown Appointments
April 2004
to 30
September 05
Total 549 348 201 474 66 9 Percentage 100 63 37 86 12 2

4. The Judicial Appointments 7th Annual Report, 2004-2005, is available on the DCA website on: (insert link). Copies of the report can also be purchased from the Stationery Office for £8.50 by calling 0870 600 5522.

5. Mrs Rowley is 41. She was called to the bar (Middle Temple) in November 1987. She has practised from the Chambers of Richard King, 5 Paper Bulidings, Temple since 2001. She was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in August 2001. Mrs Rowley will take up the post of District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit as of 1 February 2006.

6. Miss Grosse is 50. She was admitted as a solicitor in June 1980. She has worked with Winckworth Sherwood, in Westminster since 1993. She was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in July 1997. Miss Grosse will take up the post of District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit as of 22 March 2006.

www.dca.gov.uk

ENDS