Equal Treatment Advisory Committee Information

The Equal Treatment Advisory Committee (ETAC) chaired by Mrs Justice Cox.

ETAC’s Terms of Reference

• The Judicial oath provides that Judicial office holders will "do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the Realm without fear or favour, affection or ill will."
• ETAC's purpose is to assist and support all judges and judicial office holders to fulfil the obligations of this oath by being equipped to recognise the many ways in which social, cultural and other differences may have a bearing on the conduct of cases and the wider judicial role.
• ETAC will do this by:
  
  
  • Ensuring the integration of diversity^★ and fair treatment^★★ issues into relevant aspects of JSB training
  • Providing and contributing to training and materials, including the Equal Treatment Bench Book, to support all judges and judicial office holders in ensuring fair treatment and increasing their knowledge and understanding of their local communities
  • Acting as a referral point for judicial inquiries or concerns within its terms of reference
  • Advising the Board and Committees on all issues within its terms of reference

^★ Diversity is about acknowledging that individuals are different, and accepting, understanding and respecting the dignity and worth of all, regardless of any difference.

^★★ Fair Treatment is evident when Judges and Judicial Office Holders use the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their judicial functions with open mindedness, awareness and understanding. In doing so, they need to be anticipatory and proactive in identifying practical ways of accommodating individual needs. This may include making reasonable adjustments in the course of case management and to normal court arrangements to ensure, so far as practicable, that all parties are treated fairly and are on an equal footing.

Page last updated 12 Feb 2008