When creating new XSLT transformer the compiler parses stylesheet and loads classes that will process instructions. These classes are loaded from com.sun.org.apache.xalan.internal.xsltc.compiler.Parser.makeInstance using context class loader although their names are known and they are in the same package as the parser itself and there is no reason to provide classloader accessible from context classloader that will mask these implementation. It means that using the same CL that loaded Parser class is more appropriate here.

The result is bad performance - class loader is obtained inside PriviledgedAction (involves crossing JNI barrier and possible security checks). Context class loader has to delegate the loadClass attempt through several layers because this implementation is currently part of boot classpath.