Diversity and Community Relations Judiciary

It is the right of everyone, without discrimination, to equal treatment within the justice system. This is one of the founding principles of our democracy. However, to members of communities that have little contact with the law, it may not be self-evident. The Diversity and Community Relations Judges seek to dispel myths surrounding the judiciary and to act as a link between the courts and all local communities.

The work of the Diversity and Community Relations Judges (DCRJs) helps to increase public confidence in the legal system, challenge inaccurate or outdated perceptions of the judiciary, and explain the difficult job that they perform. The judiciary is at the forefront of the justice system, so it is important that different communities understand the role of the judiciary, and the constraints under which it operates. There are over 40 Diversity and Community Relations Judges throughout England and Wales. Numbers and location of judges change as the makeup of the population changes.

Although the network of judges was set up originally to work with black and minority ethnic communities, the work has now expanded to include all minority groups.

Most major court centres have an assigned DCRJ, all of whom are circuit judges. The judges take on this work voluntarily, in addition to their normal court-related responsibilities. My main responsibility as Lead DCRJ is to co-ordinate the DCRJs and organise an annual training event.

The main role of a DCRJ is:

• to act as a point of reference within the courts
• to facilitate and promote dialogue and understanding with diverse communities and minorities, and
• to help, together with the court administrators, to develop links with harder to reach communities and minority groups who would otherwise have very limited knowledge of the court process.

In this capacity, these judges have tried to encourage more community involvement through participation, for example by ensuring proper minority representation on juries, promoting the magistracy, and championing equal employment opportunities within the courts and the justice system generally.

Other activities have included inviting leaders of community groups and organisations to visit the courts and meet the judges and important civic officials such as the Mayor and Sheriff of the county, to discuss pressing issues or concerns. Judges have also visited local religious and community groups.

DCRJs also visit schools and universities to talk to students about the justice system, and to encourage them to seek employment in it. They invite pupils from local schools to their courts, so that they can get an “insider’s” view of the process.

Judges may have difficulty attending daytime events, because they have to do their “day job” but if you would like to speak to your local DCRJ to see whether he or she will talk to your school, college or community group, please feel free to get in touch with the court manager and explain who you are and what sort of event you would like them to attend.