New report uncovers ’institutional racism’ in the justice system

A new report by experts from The University of Manchester and barrister Keir Monteith KC has raised urgent questions about racial attitudes and practices in the justice system in England and Wales. Although the judiciary wields enormous power over individuals, its operations are alarmingly underscrutinised, and one area that has remained largely beyond examination is judicial racial bias. The report draws on a survey of 373 legal professionals. 95% of respondents said that racial bias plays some role in the processes or outcomes of the justice system, and 29% said it played a 'fundamental role'. A majority of respondents had witnessed one or more judges acting in a racially biased way towards a defendant and in their decision-making. Racial discrimination by judges is most frequently directed towards Asian and Black people according to the survey, with people from Black communities - lawyers, witnesses, defendants, etc. by far the most common targets of judicial discrimination.