A blind barrister from Rochdale has been sworn in as a district judge.
When Dr Fayyaz Afzal, aged 39, was called to the Bar in 1999, he was the only Asian blind barrister in the country, and in recognition won the BBC’s Asia Award.
He went on to successfully practise in areas of crime, civil, family and immigration. In 2010 he was appointed as a deputy district judge, and appointed as a recorder in 2015.
Dr Afzal adds: “I sincerely hope that my appointment to the District Bench will serve to reassure those with a disability or from non-traditional backgrounds that it is possible to succeed through determination and merit. I would hope that we will continue to see improvements to the diversity of the judiciary.”
Plans for new Leeds Kirkgate Market attraction move forward
Big Doggie Do set to return to Milton Keynes
Bradford Council appoints David Watson as new culture and events director
Drug Arrests After Police Raid in Allerton
Appeal after serious collision on Vicar Lane in Leeds
Leeds 400 challenge launched to get city moving
Accrington drug dealer jailed for 10 years
Culture at the Heart of Stockport’s Transformation
South Asian Art Exhibition Opens at Cartwright Hall
Men’s Mental Fitness Programme Launches in Blackburn
Council Calls for Tougher Fly-Tipping Sentences
Legal Show
Alim OnAir
Bhangra Nights
Remix Saturdays