Thursday 12 July 2012 by Jonathan Rayner

A record number of candidates applied for judicial appointments last year, the Judicial Appointment Commission's latest annual report reveals.

There were 5,490 applications in 2011-12, of which 746 resulted in the appointment of tribunal chairs, recorders, district judges, deputy district judges, circuit judges and high court judges. The number of applications was 17% up on the previous record of 4,684 applications, in 2010-11. The number of appointments was 9% up on the 2010-11 figure of 684.

The annual report published yesterday does not give a breakdown of applications and appointments for solicitors and other groups under-represented in the judiciary, but says that the commission is monitoring the progress of 'women; black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates; solicitors; and disabled candidates' to detect any evidence of unfairness.

It has also begun to collect data on the sexual orientation and religion and belief of candidates.

Read the annual report.