Bar Council backs adding disability to JAC equal merit judicial appointments rule
The Bar Council has backed Judicial Appointments Commission plans to extend the equal merit provision, already used for ethnicity and gender, to disability. Legal Futures reported that a JAC consultation said existing data shows disabled people are under-represented (11% of judges versus 18% of the adult working population), and that JAC analysis expects a small rise in disabled recommendations. The JAC is also piloting shorter selection processes in four large competitions.
Key points
- When candidates are of equal merit, the JAC may prioritize ethnicity and gender; disability would be added.Legal Futures
- In 2025-26 the JAC shortlisted 40 candidates and recommended 14 under the equal merit provision.Legal Futures
- Disabled people are 11% of judges versus 18% of the adult working population.Legal Futures
- The Bar Council said the provision should apply at shortlisting and selection and be reviewed regularly.Legal Futures
- A JAC pilot drops the online scenario test in four competitions, which it says could cut timelines by a quarter.Legal Futures