OBV: A judiciary for all

Georgia Ramsay leads the way by becoming the first person to be appointed as a magistrate after taking part in the pilot Operation Black Vote and Lord Chancellor's Department Magistrates Shadowing Scheme.

Like all the others on the scheme Bristol based Georgia wanted to give something back to the community, become a magistrate, and also inspire others to follow suit. 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.

Georgia's appointment also marks the launch of the Magistrates Shadowing Scheme 2003 which will give over 50 others from minority communities around the country the opportunity to shadow over one hundred magistrates for a period of six months.

The new areas are Merseyside, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby & South Derbyshire, Walsall, Birmingham, Cardiff, Bradford, Lancashire (Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale), London, Oxfordshire and West Hertfordshire (Watford & Hemel Hempstead).

A photo call and press conference will take place on Wednesday, 28 May 2003. Start Time: 10.00 am, at Bristol Magistrates Court, Nelson Street, Bristol BS99 7BJ.

Georgia Ramsey said: "I am thrilled to be appointed, it is very important that the racial and ethnic mix within the magistracy reflects local communities. Support for the scheme has been extremely widespread and I am pleased to be paving the way for others".

The Lord Chancellor said: "The Government is strongly committed to a lay magistracy which reflects and understands the local community that it serves. We are also strong supporters of initiatives that break down barriers to an understanding of the criminal justice system. The pilot scheme has demonstrated that with commitment on all sides those goals can be achieved".

Simon Woolley, of Operation Black Vote stated: "This scheme follows on from the success of our MP shadowing scheme which as a long-term project will ensure greater representation within our decision making institutions. It is particularly pleasing that the success of the project is also being seen outside of London".

Notes to the editors The Operation Black Vote Shadowing Scheme is the first to specifically target ethnic minorities.