HHJ Barbara Mensah was only appointed in 2009 so she is, presumably , still sitting because judges are expected to serve 15 years. She sits in the Crown Court .With the retirement this year of the one black woman High Court Judge, she must be the top, black, woman judge. How anyone could describe Constance Briscoe in terms of her being a judge, let alone a top one, when she has only ever been a barrister in practice who happens to be allowed to sit as a judge for a few weeks a year, generally as a relief judge, only trying very minor cases, is not immediately apparent.
The absence of women in the judiciary is also notable. Typically women only represent about 5 per cent of the judiciary at any given level or type of court. Their highest representation is about one third, found at the level of the professional magistrates and, on the civil side, in such jobs as costs masters.