Most contemporary courts are traditionally occupied with white and male judges. Female judges reach the 30 percent point in the US courts which allows assuming that they are underrepresented in the courtrooms. However, nearly a half of the law students across the country are female. At the same time, the principles of fair rule and judgment require ethnic and gender diversity among the federal officials.
One of the main hurdles to equal gender representation in the courts is politicians being uncomfortable with appointing women or people of color at the top of the judiciary system. Strong decision-making and uniformity are expected from white male judges, and female representatives are treated as inappropriate candidates. Women are underrepresented not merely in American courts. In Australia, some states imposed 50 percent quota for female judges in courts to address this issue.
Female judges have a different way of thinking and they approach cases from the different perspective. Perhaps, that is what numerous courts need. The issues of sexual assault, sexism, discrimination at home and in the workplace may seem like exaggerated tales to the male judges. Their female colleagues, on the other hand, see a real threat to the victim’s health and well-being. It is already a tendency in the American courts that rapists get mild sentences or escape imprisonment at all.
Apparently, even in the judiciary system males and females take the opposite sides and have different truths. But the situation shall not continue this way. Perhaps, implementing a quota on female representation is a wise move which may contribute to more efficient hearings and fair verdicts.