The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) said three lawyers from a list of the 58 names put forward to the Lord Chancellor for appointment to the bench were from ethnic minorities.

In the previous year - when judges were appointed under a system widely considered to be unfair - 14% of lawyers appointed were black and Asian.

However, the JAC said figures are not directly comparable because only a small number of recruitment exercises had been carried out, and the appointments system itself has changed dramatically.

The JAC data appeared to show an improvement in the balance of men and women recommended to serve as judges.

In the latest figures, 28 of the JAC's 58 recommended names were women (48%), whereas in 2005/06 the proportion of women appointed was just 41%.

JAC chairman Baroness Prashar said: "Progress on minorities is slow and we are making concerted efforts to improve this.

"However, to succeed in our objective of diversifying the judiciary it will require a legal profession that is itself diverse."

She added: "We have made a good start, particularly in defining merit, introducing a new streamlined selection process and our extensive work to encourage a wide range of eligible candidates to apply. I am very proud of the fact that within a year, the JAC has introduced an altogether new, open, fair and accountable selection process and that our efforts are beginning to show results.

"There are very early signs of increases in overall applications received. Furthermore, figures based on a very small number of selection exercises show an increase in the proportion of women and solicitors who are being recommended for appointment."