The number of applications from solicitors for the role of civil district judge almost doubled in the last selection round, according to data published by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) last week.

Of the 81 candidates recommended for appointment, 72% were solicitors, who make up 40% of the eligible pool, 40% were women and 7% were from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The 2009/10 selection exercise attracted 505 applications – almost twice the number received in 2007/08.

A quarter of applicants were solicitors, up from 13% in the previous round. Solicitors and barristers were selected in broadly similar proportions – 15% of solicitor applicants were successful, compared with 19% of barrister applicants.

The number of applications from ethnic minority candidates more than quadrupled, from 16 applications in 2007/08 to 67 in 2009/10. However, the percentage of ethnic minority applicants recommended for office fell to 9%, down from 25% in the previous exercise.

JAC chair Lady Prashar said the data showed that prospective candidates ‘have confidence in our selection process, which is open and fair’.

She said the statistics dispel the myth that progress on judicial diversity has been stemmed.

Law Society president Robert Heslett said Chancery Lane had worked closely with the JAC to inform and encourage the profession, and the appointments were encouraging.