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Report shows low number of top judges from African, Asian communities in UK

Xinhua, July 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Although the number of female judges sitting in Britain's top law courts is at an all-time high, disappointment was voiced Thursday at the low number from African, Asian and other ethnic communities.

Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales, made the comment in a report detailing judicial diversity figures for 2016.

Details of the diversity among the British justice system are given in the first progress report of the Judicial Diversity Committee of the Judges' Council.

Lord Thomas said: "I believe strongly that it is imperative that we as judges do not sit back and wait for change but are active in improving the diversity of the judiciary."

He said it was encouraging that the figures show that the overall percentage of female judges in courts has increased this year from 25 percent to 28 percent, compared to 23 percent in 2012. The numbers of female judges in the High Court and the Court of Appeal remain stable at their highest levels, he said.

The Lord Chief Justice said the percentage of BAME judges under 50 years of age has increased from 12 percent to 16 percent, providing some encouragement for the future.

"We are disappointed that there has been no improvement in either courts or tribunals in the total percentage of judges from African, Asian and minority ethnic background. Hence, this is an area of concern and one where the Judicial Diversity Committee will be considering what more needs to be done," said Lord Thomas.

He added: "The judiciary must be truly open to everyone of the requisite ability and we are hopeful that the variety of initiatives being actively pursued will bring more diversity to the judiciary, more quickly."

Activities to encourage more diverse judges include networking events, outreach, judicial work shadowing, mentoring, application workshops and a dedicated support program.

Statistics published Thursday show that just 5 percent of judges are identified as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME). The figure is higher for judges under the age of 40, with 8 percent from BAME communities, a 2 percent increase over the previous year.

More than half of court judges under the age of 40 in England and Wales are women, a 2 percent drop on the previous year when it was 53 percent. Endit