Perceptions of unfairnness and prejudice in the selection of judges still widely persist, three years after a new body was set up to modernise the system.
Research published today by the Judicial Appointments Commission shows that one in four lawyers still do not feel the selection process is fair; and 37 per cent do not think judges are chosen on merit.
Moves to increase diversity also appear to have prompted a backlash with white male barristers just as likely as women or ethnic minority lawyers to feel disadvantaged, the research found.
“There is a definite impression that for some respondents, the impertatived to increase diversity is indistinguishable from positive discrimination,” the report says.
While some women and ethnic minority candidates felt that they were at