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Recent progress on judicial diversity – January 2026

Published:

JAC Diversity Update

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has published its Diversity Update for January 2026 , setting out progress and analysis in support of its statutory duty to encourage diversity in the range of candidates available for judicial appointment. The Diversity Update is a biannual publication that reports on ongoing progress and new activity undertaken in line with the JAC’s diversity strategy. The strategy has three key strands: outreach, fair and non-discriminatory selection processes, and working with others to break down barriers.

This edition reflects activity delivered over the past six months and includes in-depth analysis from the 2025 Diversity of the Judiciary Statistics Report, with detailed insights into candidate progression and representation trends across the judicial selection pipeline.

Key developments include:

  • The judiciary published a revised Judicial Skills and Abilities framework in January 2025. The JAC supported its development and exercises launching from October 2025 now operate under the new framework. The framework sets out what is universally expected of those in judicial roles, and it has been developed to be comprehensible and accessible to all.
  • Changes to the operation of statutory consultation introduced in 2022 were evaluated in 2025. The evaluation found the revised approach to be effective, with most candidates now participating in exercises where statutory consultation is waived. The evaluation and updated guidance documents have been published on the JAC website.
  • In 2025, the JAC commissioned the Work Psychology Group to provide expert advice on its shortlisting approaches. This work provided assurance that current processes align with best practice and are appropriate to the JAC’s context.
  • The JAC also commissioned the Work Psychology Group to review neurodiversity best practice. The findings have been published, and several recommendations have already been implemented. A review of the reasonable adjustment policy will take place in 2026.
  • The Targeted Outreach Programme continues to play a central role in supporting underrepresented candidates. As of December 2025, over 1,190 candidates had applied to the programme, with 666 currently receiving tailored support from former JAC Commissioners and Judicial Guides. Monitoring indicates improved progression outcomes for several underrepresented groups, informing ongoing refinement of the programme.
  • The JAC expanded its outreach and engagement activity in 2025, supporting more than 40 external events and hosting its first large-scale candidate seminar, attended by over 400 prospective applicants.
  • The JAC is working with Judicial Diversity Forum (JDF) partners to develop a centralised online hub bringing together guidance and initiatives across JDF partners, and targeted engagement to better understand the experiences of Black legal professionals.
  • The 2025 Diversity of the Judiciary Statistics Report was published alongside an interactive online dashboard for the first time, enabling users to explore diversity trends across judicial roles over time. The January 2026 Diversity Update draws on this data to provide additional insight into representation and progression, including new analysis of disability across the judicial pipeline.
     

You can also read our previous July 2025 update

Judicial Diversity Forum priorities update

Through its role as Chair of the Judicial Diversity Forum (JDF), the JAC has continued to work with partners to coordinate activity, address structural barriers, and improve access to support for candidates. The JDF has provided an update on progress against its 2025 action plan. The action plan outlines the wide range of actions that its members are undertaking to achieve a more diverse and inclusive judiciary, aligned to four outcomes, and how the impact of each initiative will be measured and evaluated.