The image of Oxbridge-educated male judges dominating the courts has been toppled after the Old Bailey achieved gender parity for the first time.

       An equal number of male and female full-time judges now sit at the historic criminal court in central London, including three mothers with school-age children.

       Mark Lucraft QC, the lead Old Bailey judge, said it was a “significant step in the right direction”, but added more could be done on ethnic diversity.

       He said: “Personally, I’m a strong believer in diversity of individual background. Certainly, I know quite a number of judges here are not perhaps from traditional areas where judges might have been selected – public school; Oxbridge. I went to a comprehensive school in north London, the University of Kent and ended up here.”

       He added that the Old Bailey now reflects society better than “if they are all white, male, privately educated, Oxbridge-educated applicants”.

       Prolific terror case judge joins court

       The most recent appointments include judges Rebecca Trowler QC, Simon Mayo QC and Alexia Durran.

       Judge Trowler has been prolific in defending those charged with terrorism offences, including ISIS convert Lewis Ludlow who was jailed in 2019 for a plot to blow up the Disney store on Oxford Street.

       Her case for mitigation was that he is a “vulnerable man”, suffering autism and depression but this did not prevent him from being sentenced to life in prison.

       A long list of terrorist-related cases are recorded amongst her biggest achievements in her online career biography, alongside representing former Labour MP Jim Devine during his expenses scandal case.

       She said: “Sitting as a judge at the Old Bailey is a privilege in itself, and to do so as the court achieves gender parity for the first time is an even greater honour. This is an important milestone along the way as the judiciary seeks to reflect the society it represents.”

       No ‘one size fits all approach’

       Judge Durran added: “By appointing judges from a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds, we are sending an important message that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach in law or the judiciary.

       “I hope that by seeing female judges presiding over some of the most complex and difficult cases in England and Wales, it will inspire other young women and female practitioners to consider law and judicial appointment as a career.”

       In the past, Old Bailey judges were often “men of a certain age”, but the most recent additions bring the range down to between 50 and 69, Judge Lucraft said.

       The first female judge to sit on the Old Bailey was Nina Lowry, who was appointed in 1967, and was followed shortly after by Judge Ann Goddard. Judge Lowry held her position until her retirement in the mid-1980s.