FIRST ASIAN WOMAN MAGISTRATE
(5 April 2004)

Revinder Johal has become the first Asian woman to be appointed as a magistrate after taking part in the pilot Operation Black Vote and Department for Constitutional Affairs Magistrates Shadowing Scheme. Her appointment ceremony, held on Monday 5th April 2004 at Birmingham Council House, was attended by newly appointed magistrates, Bench and Advisory Committee members and local dignitaries, including the Lady Mayoress.

The country's first ever Magistrates Shadowing Scheme, launched by the Lord Chancellor, and welcomed by magistrates courts across the UK, aims to help address the deficit of Black and other minority ethnic magistrates within the court system. Earlier this year, the Magistrates Shadowing Scheme was relaunched in twelve cities, enabling over 100 people from Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities around the country the opportunity to shadow over two hundred magistrates for a period of six months.

Revinder Johal said, "The Magistrates Shadowing Scheme is important because it provided a valuable opportunity for me to gain an insight into the magistracy. I strongly believe that it is important to have more Black and minority ethnic magistrates to ensure that the Bench is more representative and has a better understanding and awareness of cultural diversity. I feel that by becoming a magistrate, I can make a positive contribution and give something back to the community."

Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote said, "It's excellent news. Ravinder has shown herself to be a role model not only to the Asian community, but to wider society too. Operation Black Vote's shadowing schemes will continue to produce the next generation of BME decision makers."

The 2004 Magistrates Shadowing Scheme areas are Birmingham, London, Merseyside, Leicester, Nottingham, Oxford, Watford/West Hertfordshire, Derby & South Derbyshire, Bradford, Walsall, Vale of Glamorgan and Burnley.

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