A programme to improve the diversity of judges has been announced.

The strategy, devised by the secretary of state for constitutional affairs and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, and a new Judicial Appointments Commission, will increase the range of applications and eligibility for judicial office.

It aims to improve the working environment of judicial office-holders in response to a new report by the Department of Constitutional Affairs which condemned the “irrevocably sexist and racist” culture of the judiciary.

The research said there was a “strong belief that the judiciary only welcomed those in its own image – ie white males from the ‘right’ social background.”

Lord Falconer said the situation had improved over the last few years but would be boosted by the new Commission.

“The launch of the Judicial Appointments Commission provides an ideal opportunity to set in place a new strategy to build on the improvements made in recent years,” he commented.