JAC Commissioners - who are independent of government and the civil service - have the corporate responsibility for ensuring that the JAC fulfils its role under the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act so that recruitment to the judiciary is made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Commissioners are accountable to Parliament through the Lord Chancellor.
The Commissioners have five core activities:
• To attend Commission meetings ten times per year in London, bringing their experience and judgement to bear on a range of important strategy, governance and policy issues. Each Commissioner is normally expected to also serve on one or two sub-Committees or working groups, each meeting remotely up to five times a year typically for a couple of hours at a time;
• To select candidates for judicial appointment based on the selection exercise programme agreed with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) and the Ministry of Justice. The Commission considers all of the information provided, including the assessments of the selection panel convened by the JAC, before making a decision as to who will be recommended to the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice or the Senior President of Tribunals for appointment;
• One or more Commissioners will also be assigned to oversee each selection process. With the exception of appointments to the High Court or above, they will not generally sit on individual selection panels, but will ensure that the process is followed, and will be part of the process that makes the final recommendation of suitable candidates;
• To ensure that recruitment for all exercises is open, fair and the best person for the job is recommended for appointment, Commissioners will regularly review the selection processes used to ensure that they are fit for purpose; and
• To ensure that the JAC undertakes its statutory duty of having regard to the need to encourage diversity in the range of persons available for selection for appointments. In doing so it is expected that Commissioners take part in external events, including speaking at seminars, conferences and meetings, and making presentations to key interested parties, individuals and groups.
The Commissioners work closely with JAC staff who undertake the day-to-day process of selecting candidates to the judiciary.
The Judicial Appointments Commission selects candidates for judicial office in England and Wales, and for some tribunals with UK-wide powers.
We are responsible for running selection exercises and making recommendations for posts up to and including the High Court. We also participate in, at the request of the Lord Chancellor and alongside the Lady Chief Justice, the selection of senior judicial office holders such as the Lady Chief Justice, the High Court Heads of Division, the Senior President of Tribunals and Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal.
It is our statutory duty to select candidates on merit, who are of good character. We believe in a judiciary that reflects the diverse society it serves and we have a statutory duty to attract diverse applicants from a wide field. We work closely with a range of organisations to promote vacancies to all those who are eligible.
We consistently evaluate our work and processes, making sure we operate in a way that is fair and transparent, and looking for ways to improve.
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website