Number of women judges to increase

The number of women High Court judges is set to rise to record levels, the Judicial Appointments Commission said today.

But even with the new additions, men will make up nearly 85% of senior judges.

Five of the 22 judges selected for the High Court this year are women, taking their numbers to 17 out of 110 once the new group is sworn in, the JAC said.

Baroness Prashar, JAC chairman said: "I am delighted that we are making progress and that our strenuous efforts are beginning to show results.

"We expect the composition of the senior judges will gradually come to reflect society more closely."

The JAC was created in 2006 to formalise the process for appointing senior members of the judiciary, amid fears they were being appointed through the barristers' old boy network.

Campaigners claim too many are white men who have attended a select few public schools, and not enough are women or from ethnic minorities.

The commission recommends the appointments to the Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw.