Appointment details

Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission

Summary

• Organisation: Judicial Appointments Commission
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
• Location: London
• Sectors: Judicial, Prisons & Policing
• Skills: Change Management, Media, Human Resources, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 3 day(s) per week
• Remuneration: £577 per day
• Length of term: Three Years
• Application deadline: 11am on 16 September 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   29 August 2025

2. Application deadline

   11am on 16 September 2025

3. Sifting date

   26 September 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   29 October 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

I am seeking an outstanding individual with excellent leadership, engagement and communication skills and strong personal integrity to serve as Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) Chair.

The JAC is a non-departmental public body established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 which recommends candidates for judicial appointment, on merit, through fair and open competition

I am looking for a candidate who is comfortable acting as the public face of the Commission and as an ambassador for its work, engaging with Ministers, senior judiciary and a range of other senior stakeholders in Parliament, within the legal professions and elsewhere.

I am also seeking a driven individual with the skills to promote the Commission’s statutory duty to attract diverse applicants from a wide field as well as to uphold judicial independence and the rule of law. As well as leading a team of 14 Commissioners to work with the Chief Executive to oversee delivery of the Commission’s strategy and priorities, you will also sit on selection panels for the most senior and sensitive appointments.

This is both an exciting and challenging time to join the Commission. There is great interest in how judges are selected and there will continue to be a high volume of judicial recruitment over the next few years and the Commission will need to think innovatively about how to meet the recruitment needs of our world class judiciary to support our modern and evolving justice system.

Information about the JAC, the role of a Commissioner and the skills and qualities we are looking for are set out below. If you have further questions about any aspect of the role, please contact Alex McMurtrie, Chief Executive: alex.mcmurtrie@judicialappointments.gov.uk. If you have questions about the role or application process please contact Ed Bowie at: ed.bowie@justice.gov.uk

If you believe you have the experience and qualities to take on this vital and challenging role, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Appointment description

• Uphold the principles of judicial independence and the recruitment, on merit, of a high-calibre, diverse judiciary on the basis of fair and open competition.

• Be the public face of the Commission, promoting and acting as an ambassador for its work and the rule of law; playing a leading role in cooperation with the Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor and other partners in securing a more diverse judiciary.

• To Chair 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.

• Support Commissioner recruitment, by the Ministry of Justice, and to lead, manage, motivate, and appraise Commissioners.

• Lead the Commission’s engagement with any Public Bodies Review of the Commission, that might take place, during the Chair’s tenure

• Oversee the implementation of the Commission’s strategy and priorities.

• Develop and maintain an effective partnership with the Chief Executive to hold them to account to ensure the delivery of the Commission’s strategy and priorities including a high volume of judicial appointment recruitment exercises.

• Establish strong and constructive working relationships with the judiciary, the Lord Chancellor, Parliament, senior civil servants, the legal profession and other key stakeholders.

• Sit on selection panels for the most senior and/or sensitive appointments alongside other Commissioners.

Organisation description

The Judicial Appointments Commission selects candidates for judicial office in England and Wales, and for some tribunals with UK-wide powers.

The JAC's  statutory duty to select people on merit, who are of good character. The JAC believes the judiciary should reflect the society it serves and aims to attract diverse applicants from a wide field. The JAC works closely with a range of organisations to promote vacancies to all those who are eligible.                                                   

More information about the JAC can be found at: https://judicialappointments.gov.uk

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Personal integrity, sound judgement, discretion, strong communication skills and a personal style that demonstrates authority, trust and humility.

• An appreciation of the importance of the judiciary, its constitutional position, relationship with other branches of Government, and independence and that of the JAC.

• A commitment to recruitment on merit and on the basis of fair and open competition, working with the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor as each discharges their statutory duty to encourage judicial diversity.

• Substantial current understanding and/or experience of making senior appointments including an appreciation of the need for diversity, whilst maintaining merit, alongside the value of outreach and technology.

• Experience of and ability to chair and effectively handle the relationship between the Board and the Executive, including experience of working within significant budgetary constraints and in driving innovation to deliver value for money.

• Outstanding leadership skills and experience to sustain and develop effective relationships, manage due corporate governance aspects and guide the Commission through challenges.

• The ability to provide proportionate and practical solutions which withstand public scrutiny.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Baroness Manningham - Buller LG (Panel Chair)
• The Rt Hon Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Lady Chief Justice
• The Rt Hon Lord O'Donnelll GCB

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Pre-appointment scrutiny

Pre-appointment scrutiny by select committees is an important part of the process for some of the most significant public appointments made by Ministers. It is designed to provide an added level of scrutiny to verify that the recruitment meets the principles set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments. This scrutiny may involve the relevant select committee requesting and reviewing information from the Department and the Minister’s preferred candidate. The select committee may also choose to hold a pre-appointment hearing.

If you are confirmed as the government’s preferred candidate for this role, the department will be in touch to confirm next steps. In most cases your name and CV will be provided to the relevant select committee in advance of the hearing.  Following a date being agreed for a pre-appointment hearing with the committee you will be asked to complete a questionnaire in advance of that. Following the hearing, the government will review and respond to the Committee’s report before confirming the appointment. 

Full information can be found in the Cabinet Office’s guidance here. 

Eligibility criteria

The Chair must be a lay member; a person resident in England or Wales who has never held any judicial office; cannot have ever been a practising lawyer; and cannot be employed in the Civil Service of the State. In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact  ed.bowie@justice.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the Ministry of Justice public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointmentsteam@justice.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

Privacy Notice: Public Appointments The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to the protection and security of your personal information. It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such information. This privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal information during and after your relationship with us, in accordance with data protection law. MoJ is the data controller for the personal data used for the purposes of making public appointments. The type of personal data we process We currently collect and use the following information: Name; Contact details; Employment history and qualifications Curriculum vitae and other background information relevant to your application, including sift and interview assessments made by the advisory assessment panel; Information you provide on interests relevant to the role you are applying for; Political activity; · Health information as required to facilitate access and participation in events (e.g. venue access and dietary requirements). · Due Diligence checks; As part of the recruitment process, for those candidates being invited to interview, the Department will undertake due diligence checks to assess their suitability for the role, including (alongside consideration of their own declaration of relevant interests) evidence of their conduct and/or professional capacity as demonstrated by information about them in the public domain. How we get your personal data and why we have it We receive most of your personal data through your application and declaration form. We also gather personal information indirectly, from various sources as part of the due diligence checks. This will include, for examples: your public social media activity, including searches on sites such as LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook Searches for any relevant news stories The Electoral Register (http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/) · Companies House (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/) · The Insolvency Register website (https://www.gov.uk/search-bankruptcy-insolvency-register) In submitting your application you acknowledge that such due diligence will be undertaken in respect of you and that copies of search results may be saved, stored securely, and used as part of the recruitment process in line with this privacy notice. Processing of such data is necessary to protect the reputation of the Department. Candidates may be asked about their public profiles/search results, at interview. We process your personal data for the purposes of making public appointments in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. More information about this work is available from the Commissioner for Public Appointments' website. Where we need to share your personal data with others, we ensure that this data sharing complies with data protection legislation. For the purposes of this work we may need to share your personal information with: · The Cabinet Office · The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful basis we rely on for processing your personal information is: · Performance of a public task. The legal bases on which the MoJ processes special categories of information you have provided, is on the basis of: · The substantial public interest in the Secretary of State appointing suitable candidates to the role. substantial public interest condition. International Data Transfers There are no international transfers How we store your personal data If you are successful in an application and appointed we will hold your data for three years from date appointment ends and then delete. If you are unsuccessful in your application your data will be held for two years from end of campaign and then deleted. Your Rights Your right of access - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete. Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances. Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances. Your right to object to processing - You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances. · Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances. Depending on the lawful basis on which your personal data is being processed, not all rights will apply. You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you If you wish to exercise your data protection rights please contact: Disclosure Team Post point 10.38 102 Petty France London SW1H 9AJ data.access@justice.gov.uk How to complain If you have any concerns 

Contact details

ed.bowie@justice.gov.uk