An official website here gives some interesting statistics about the make-up of the judiciary. Make of them what you will, but one thing in particular caught my eye:- some 29.1% of District Judges (Magistrates' Courts) are of the female persuasion as against about 53% of lay magistrates, and 2.8% of DJ(MC)s are of black or minority ethnic (BME) origin.I do not know the figure for BME lay magistrates but I am sure that it is a good deal higher than 2.8%.
So whatever the pros and cons of the salaried DJ bench, if it's diversity you are after, a lay bench ticks the box every time.
See http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/Resources/JCO/Documents/Stats/serving-magistrates-31032012.xls
ReplyDeleteBME magistrates nationally are 8.1%. More significantly, perhaps, the lay magistracy appears much more representative than the DJs in urban areas - e.g. BME magistrates in Greater London are 23%
What if (as a mere member of the public) I'm after competence and ability to apply the law?
ReplyDeleteWhere is the conflict? Or don't you think that by definition women and members of ethnic minority groups are up to the job. There are always more applicants than places, so there is absolutely no need to compromise on competence and ability. When Advisory Committees get it wrong it's because the members are human, not because they are too PC.
Delete(This is the same content as the deleted comment apart from an inadvertent, unhelpful double negative)
Statistics really do not tell you much when the sample is so small. There are only about 150 DJ(MC).
ReplyDeleteAn interesting statistic would be out of the numbers who apply from any group what percentage get through. But there again the opportunity to inject new blood only comes round every couple of years, and again the numbers are samll. Currently there are 10 jobs up for grabs
If it’s ability aligned with much training and experience you are after, the DJ wins hands down over the self important who want to play with the law for a couple of hours a week.
ReplyDeleteAnother helpful Anonymous comment...
Delete"Diversity" in the professional judiciary is a considerable issue but, as the LCJ said at his recent press conference, appointments can only be made on merit.
ReplyDeleteWith respect, ObiterJ, I suspect that is not quite true. Sure, merit comes into it, but so do the pre-qualifications required and any previous bias built into getting those qualifications in the first place (like admittance to chambers and all the other various things like that).
DeleteThere might be room for change here. I can't see any good reason, for example, that an experienced JP should not apply to be a DJ(MC).
"Diversity" in the professional judiciary is a considerable issue but, as the LCJ said at his recent press conference, appointments can only be made on merit.
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