The Ministry of Justice’s 2026 judicial diversity report offers a subtle view of progress, highlighting advancements for some minority groups while pointing to stagnation for others, notably Black individuals. Let’s look into these findings to understand the intricacies of the situation.
Asian and Mixed Ethnicities: Slow but Steady Progress
The judiciary has witnessed a gradual increase in the representation of Asian and mixed ethnicity individuals since 2016. While this trend is encouraging, it’s important to note that the pace of growth is slow. The report shows that the proportion of Asian and mixed ethnicity individuals in the judiciary has slowly increased since 2016.
Kirsty Brimelow KC, Chair of the Bar Council, welcomed the publication of the detailed data, stating, “We welcome the annual publication of this detailed data which enables us to scrutinise progress…”
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She also expressed concern about the stagnation of Black judges’ representation, saying, “But we remain concerned that progress has completely stalled in terms of the proportion of Black judges.”
Social Mobility Disparities: More Than Meets the Eye
The 2026 report found disparities across multiple social mobility measures. Those who attended state school had a slightly lower recommendation rate compared with those who attended an independent or fee-paying school. Applicants who were the first in their family to go to university had a lower recommendation rate compared with those who reported that one or more of their parents had attended university. And those from a lower socio-economic background had a lower recommendation rate compared with those who had a professional or intermediate socio-economic background.
On social mobility, Kirsty added, “Social mobility is one of the priorities for my year as Chair of the Bar because far too often people who don’t have opportunities in their childhood miss out on incredible professional careers. The Bar and the Bench should be open to everyone who meets the academic and professional standards. “I’m delighted that data on social mobility is now included in the annual statistics and will work through the new Judicial and Legal Diversity Board to monitor progress and work with others to address disparities.”