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Moving faster to a more diverse judiciary

28 April 2009

Lord Chancellor Jack Straw today announced the establishment of an Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity with Baroness Julia Neuberger as its Chair.

The panel is charged with identifying the barriers to a more diverse judiciary and making recommendations to achieve speedier and sustained progress to a judiciary more representative of the people it serves.

The panel will report back to the Lord Chancellor in November 2009.

Mr Straw said:

‘We are fortunate in this country in having a judiciary of which we can be truly proud. I am pleased that there are increasing numbers of women, black and minority ethnic applicants for judicial office. But I am concerned, as are the Lord Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission, that progress on diversity remains slow, despite the efforts and commitment of all those involved.

‘That is why the establishment of this Advisory Panel on Judicial Diversity is so important. We need to take a broad look at the opportunities and barriers – perceived and real – to reaching high judicial office. Becoming a judge must be, and must be seen to be, open to all with the right skills and qualities.

‘This is, understandably, not an issue government can or should tackle alone. I expect the panel to work with and utilise the expertise of the senior judiciary, the Judicial Appointments Commission, the legal professions and those in the equality and diversity sector. There are plenty of ideas and excellent work has already been done, especially through the Judicial Appointments Commission’s Judicial Diversity Forum. But we need to harness and galvanise all of this activity into a focused coherent programme for change.’

The panel consists of Baroness Neuberger, Lord Justice Goldring, Professor Dame Hazel Genn, Andrew Holroyd CBE, Winston Hunter QC and Dr Nicola Brewer.

Panel Chair Baroness Neuberger added:

‘If it is to succeed the panel must look at a broad range of issues and build on identified successes – this is not just about the appointments process.

‘We will also consider amongst other things whether the judiciary is seen as the preserve of a select few, when it must be open to all with the right skills and qualities.’

She said the panel would also examine:

• Whether potential applicants’ perception of what the role of the judge involves, real or imagined, is deterring good candidates from coming forward.
• Whether the terms and conditions underpinning judicial office sustain a diverse judiciary.
• If the support provided to prospective and new entrants to the judiciary is adequate.
• How those keen on progressing their judicial careers to the most senior levels can develop their potential.
• What might we learn from other justice systems.

Regarding Baroness Neuberger’s appointment, Mr Straw added:

‘I am confident that the panel has the right blend of skills and experience to tackle a subject of this complexity and importance. Julia Neuberger has all the qualities one could ask for in a panel chair and I look forward to receiving the panel’s report.'

Notes to editors

1) Please contact the Ministry of Justice press office on 020 3334 3536.

2) Biographies of panel members

Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE was Britain’s second female rabbi and the first to lead a synagogue on her own. She served the South London Liberal Synagogue for twelve years, before going to the King's Fund Institute as a Visiting Fellow, to work on research ethics committees in the United Kingdom. She was Chair of Camden and Islington Community Health Services Trust 1993-97 until she became Chief Executive of the King’s Fund until 2004. She served as a Civil Service Commissioner 2001-02 and was a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life 2001-04. She is a former trustee of the Runnymede Trust, and she also broadcasts regularly.

She was appointed a DBE in the New Year’s Honours List of 2004, and in June 2004 she was created life peer. On 29 June 2007 she was appointed the Prime Minister’s champion for volunteering, a post she relinquished in early June 2009.

Dr Nicola Brewer CMG was appointed the Equality and Human Rights Commission's first chief executive in December 2008. She took up her appointment on 5 March 2007. Prior to joining the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Nicola was Director General for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and continues to sit on the FCO Board. Before that, she was Director General for regional programmes at the Department for International Development (DFID), supervising the UK's overseas bilateral aid programmes, and was also a DFID board member. She was awarded the CMG in 2002.

Dame Professor Hazel Genn DBE QC was appointed Dean of the University College London Faculty of Laws in September 2008 where she has been Professor of Socio-Legal Studies and co-director of the Centre for Empirical Legal Studies. She has been a Judicial Appointments Commissioner since January 2006 and a member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. She is chair of the Public and Legal Education Task Force and was chair of the Advisory Panel for Research on family advice and information for the Legal Services Commission.

Lord Justice John Goldring was appointed Deputy Senior Presiding Judge in October 2008. He was called to the Bar (Lincoln's Inn) in 1969 and made a Bencher in 1996. He took Silk in 1987 and was appointed a recorder in 1987. In 1999 he was appointed a High Court Judge in the Queen's Bench Division, and in 2008 he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal. He was Presiding Judge for the Midland Circuit 2002-05, and was a Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission 2006-8.

Andrew Holroyd CBE became a solicitor in 1974 and has worked as partner at Jackson and Canter in Liverpool since 1977, specialising in immigration law. He was appointed OBE in 2003 for services to publicly funded legal work in Liverpool and was made a CBE in the 2009 New Year's Honours List. He was President of the Law Society 2007-08.

Winston Hunter QC was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1985 and specialises in commercial and company law. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel and assistant recorder in 2000 and a recorder in 2001. He was a founder member of the Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association.