“I think it’s important courts reflect society.”
—Mark Lucraft, QC the Recorder of London
Old Bailey Achieves Gender Parity in Judiciary
As of August 2021, the Old Bailey, London's central criminal court, has made a significant leap towards equality by achieving gender balance among its judges for the first time. There are now seven male and seven female full-time judges. The first female judge appeared in 1950. Recorder of London Mark Lucraft QC called this change “a significant step” emphasizing the importance of courts reflecting society as a whole rather than being predominantly filled with men from privileged backgrounds like public schools or Oxbridge universities.
This progress is a vital step towards dismantling systemic barriers and fostering an environment where diverse perspectives can shape the future of law and justice.
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Old Bailey at last has as many female judges as male
The image of Oxbridge-educated male judges dominating the courts appears to be over after the Old Bailey reached gender parity for the first time. Mark Lucraft
Neil Johnston
