The next tranche of High Court judicial candidates is a diverse group, according to the latest Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) statistics.
Both women and BAME (black and minority ethnic) candidates showed a “solid performance”, according to Christopher Stephens, JAC chairman. Out of 10 recently appointed High Court judges, for example, three are women, four are aged under 50, one has a disability and two have a BAME background.
Stephens says: “Women continue to perform well and I am very pleased to see that BAME candidates have had more success than in the exercises reported in the previous set of statistics.”
The JAC statistics cover 21 selection exercises, 18 of which were completed between October 2014 and March 2015. A total of 304 candidates were recommended for appointment.
Some 43% (132) of successful candidates were women, compared to 33% in 2011. Some 13% (41) declared they were from a BAME background, 27% (67) were solicitors, and 41% (125) were aged 45 or under.
