Senior female judge calls for old girls' network

One of Britain's most senior female judges has called on her legal colleagues to form women-only clubs to combat the old boys' network among the judiciary.

Allowing a rare insight into the upper echelons of the judiciary, Lady Justice Brenda Hale said the small minority of women judges feel "anonymous" and "isolated" on the bench. A female-only judicial club would allow women to talk freely about "clothes", "cooking" and "childcare" without worrying about male judges pouring scorn on them.

Lady Justice Hale lost out to a man last month in her attempt to become the first woman to sit as a law lord in the House of Lords – the highest court in the land.

"The few of us there are can feel quite isolated in a world where the natives are mainly friendly but often quite discernibly from another tribe," said Lady Justice Hale, one of only two women Court of Appeal judges. But by clubbing together, women judges could help each other by addressing common issues.

Just as their male counterparts use the ancient Inns of Court and gentlemen's clubs to further their careers, women must do the same by setting up women-only judges groups, she said in an article published in Counsel magazine, the official publication for 8,000 barristers in England and Wales.

"Our male colleagues," commented Lady Justice Hale, "have taken this sort of social and professional support for granted for centuries. They do not feel the need to apologise for getting together in the Inns of Court, or in their clubs or in the mess. They know how much they benefit from it."

She urged her fellow female judges to join her in forming an Association of Women Judges, adding: "To those who ask how we would feel if there were an Association of Male Judges, we can answer 'exactly how we do at present'."

Lady Justice Hale lost out to Lord Justice Robert Walker, another Court of Appeal judge, who was appointed to the Lords. By not grasping the opportunity to appoint her or another senior woman, the Government provoked bitter criticism of the judicial appointments policy. She said in the past that the wearing of wigs "turns us all into men".

Vera Baird, Labour MP, barrister and chairwoman of an independent commission into the treatment of women in the criminal justice system, described the failure to appoint a woman as a "dreadful mistake". "It is immensely disappointing considering the talent of women judges available for selection," she said. A female judge in the Lords would help to "stamp out rampant sexism among the judiciary", she added.

Only six out of 100 High Court judges and only two out of 35 Court of Appeal judges are women, and all 26 judges who are eligible to sit in the House of Lords are men.

Lady Justice Hale said that women lawyers and judges should feel "brave enough" to get together to benefit from shared thoughts and to understand from a "diversity of role models" what it takes to be a "good judge".

Addressing any potential concerns raised by male judges she said: "I hope that they will not feel threatened or contemptuous if women feel that they can benefit from exactly the same contacts with one another. We can even discuss clothes and cooking and childcare without feeling we are intruding upon the football or the endless talk of who is getting what appointment."

Top women in the judiciary

Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, President of the Family Division

Now 69, she was the first to break into the elite and is the highest ranking female judge in the land. A mother of three, she is understood to devote her spare time to her family.

Dame Mary Arden, a Lord Justice of Appeal

Dame Mary, 55, is one of only two female Court of Appeal judges. When asked about the House of Lords she said "it would be fun" but missed out on a possible appointment. The mother of three lists her hobbies as family activities, reading and swimming.

Dame Janet Smith, High Court judge

Dame Janet's rise is linked to her expert chairing of the Shipman inquiry. Aged 61, she was appointed to the High Court in 1992. She has three children and her hobbies include gardening and music.

Cherie Booth (Blair), Part-time recorder

The Prime Minister's wife, 47, is a successful lawyer in her own right. She has been a recorder on Crown Court criminal cases since 1999. Recreations listed in Who's Who include "theatre, the arts, keeping fit, enjoying my children".