The number of applications from solicitors for the post of civil district judge has doubled in a year, the Judicial Appointments Commission has said.

Earlier this year the JAC reported a “huge rise” in the number of lawyers applying to be employment tribunal judges and fee-paid recorders (see solicitorsjournal.com 10 February 2010).

The JAC said 72 per cent of the 81 posts available in the latest recruitment round, the largest selection exercise so far carried by the JAC, went to solicitors, and 40 per cent to women. There were 505 applications.

Applications from ethnic minority lawyers more than trebled, and they made up seven per cent of those selected.

Baroness Prashar, chairman of the JAC, said she was delighted to see “so many talented candidates from more diverse backgrounds” coming through.

She said that, for the first time, the JAC was able to publish statistics tracking the appointment of women and minority lawyers to judicial office over the past 10 years.

Baroness Prashar said that more women and minority candidates were applying for judicial roles than before the JAC was set up in 2006 and more female candidates were being selected. The number of successful minority candidates remained the same.

“For the first time we have the facts that show progress has been made and dispel the myth that progress on judicial diversity has been stemmed,” she said.

Baroness Prashar said work had now started on tracking solicitor appointments.