Sample Essay: How should judges be appointed?

How I would approach this essay topic: How should judges be appointed? Judicial diversity should not supersede promotion by merit- judges play an integral part of our legal system and therefore we should chose those best suited based on their merits and not their individual characteristics. Although there does exist a typical stereotype of a white male judge, this is because in the past the best opportunities have often been offered to this particular social group. Therefore, in the future we should aim to widen the pool of applicants for appointments to the judiciary, particularly those from disadvantaged areas and encourage young people of different ethnicities and religions to consider a career in law. However, we cannot implement increased diversity overnight. Judges make important decisions which can impact heavily on our lives and it is therefore imperative that we choose our judges based on their credentials and experience rather than the colour of their skin, gender or religion. Other possible arguments for and against: Judges who believe they have been chosen based on their characteristics may feel undermined and like they havent been appointed for the correct reasons. A judge should know if they have been appointed it is because of their hard work and dedication and not just their individual characteristics (for). Female judges can bring experiences to the panel which males cannot, for example in cases regarding motherhood, pregnancy and more sensitive topics such as rape. This is not to say that a man cannot be fair and just in these areas too but different people have different opinions which can help enrich our judiciary (against). These are just a few of the ideas I came up with, narrowed down and refined so they are as clear and concise as possible. Your argument doesn't have to be complicated, it just has to be interesting and well thought out.