The judicial diversity statistics for 2026 have been published today by the Ministry of Justice. Diversity within the judiciary is a key priority for the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill.
Each year, courts and tribunals judges, non-legal members and magistrates are invited to declare their diversity information. Completion rates of at least 60% must be achieved in each category for publication of the data. Self-reporting has increased this year and, for the first time, there is data on socio-economic background, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. Data on sex, ethnicity, disability, and professional background have once again met the threshold for publication.
The Lady Chief Justice said:
“The judiciary must attract the widest possible range of outstanding talent, drawing on excellence from every part of society to support merit-based appointments.
“We have encouraged judicial office holders to report their diversity information, and I am pleased that we now have a greater range of data to help target our efforts. This is a positive step.”
In January 2026, the Lady Chief Justice launched the Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2026-2030 building on the previous 2020-2025 strategy. To support the work of the strategy, and to signify a commitment to strengthen collaboration, the Lady Chief Justice launched the Judicial and Legal Diversity Board alongside the Lord Chancellor in May 2026.
These efforts are built on a host of work which takes place every year to ensure fair access to opportunities, rather than advantaging specific groups. This includes outreach initiatives, seminars and mentoring schemes.
This year, statistics also include data on magistrates’ recruitment. While this is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice, the Lady Chief Justice has an interest in building a strong and diverse magistracy.
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https://www.judiciary.uk/judicial-diversity-statistics-2026-statement-from-the-lady-chief-justice/
seen at 10:59, 9 July in Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.