*/
On the eve of the retirement of their first chairman, Baroness Prashar, on 1 October the Judicial Appointments Commission launched a slender book of essays, Judicial Appointments, Balancing Independence, Accountability and Legitimacy, in which nine highly qualified authors dissect the background, the workings and the challenges of the 21st Century appointments system.
Taking credit where it is due, Lord Mackay of Clashfern points out that he introduced open, advertised competitions with candidates assessed against specific criteria in the mid 1990s and Jonathan Sumption QC reiterates that the Constitutional Reform Act 2006 put on a statutory basis “principles which already govern the recruitment and status of the judiciary”.
The book’s emphasis is on judges themselves: what makes a good one (Hickinbottom J), how they are becoming more diverse (Hallett LJ), and what happens when they apply (track record still counts for more than performance in role play and interview).
Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, argues for the wider value of legitimacy for the judiciary and recalls two current prominent politicians liking the idea that judges should be elected.
“If they would even contemplate the idea of so blurring the lines of justice and politics, there must be a serious job of public education and perception building to be done on the part of those of us who jealously defend the independence of the judicial branch.”
The Bar Council, the Law Society and the Institute of Legal Executives contributed to publishing the essays.
Taking credit where it is due, Lord Mackay of Clashfern points out that he introduced open, advertised competitions with candidates assessed against specific criteria in the mid 1990s and Jonathan Sumption QC reiterates that the Constitutional Reform Act 2006 put on a statutory basis “principles which already govern the recruitment and status of the judiciary”.
The book’s emphasis is on judges themselves: what makes a good one (Hickinbottom J), how they are becoming more diverse (Hallett LJ), and what happens when they apply (track record still counts for more than performance in role play and interview).
Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, argues for the wider value of legitimacy for the judiciary and recalls two current prominent politicians liking the idea that judges should be elected.
“If they would even contemplate the idea of so blurring the lines of justice and politics, there must be a serious job of public education and perception building to be done on the part of those of us who jealously defend the independence of the judicial branch.”
The Bar Council, the Law Society and the Institute of Legal Executives contributed to publishing the essays.
On the eve of the retirement of their first chairman, Baroness Prashar, on 1 October the Judicial Appointments Commission launched a slender book of essays, Judicial Appointments, Balancing Independence, Accountability and Legitimacy, in which nine highly qualified authors dissect the background, the workings and the challenges of the 21st Century appointments system.
A decade of cuts and the brutal pandemic have left courts and barristers struggling to cope – a bid for justice spending
The Lawyers’ Group of the Oasis of Peace UK are delighted to announce that on Thursday, 28 October 2021, Professor Philippe Sands QC will be delivering the 12th Rueff Lecture (via Zoom) entitled ‘Thinking About an International Rule of Law’
Inés Rivera explains how speech technology is transforming policing, courts and prisons
Philip N Bristow explains how to unlock your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step
With the property market witnessing significant changes since the beginning of the pandemic, Fleet Street Wealth’s Managing Director Julian Morgan considers the future of the home, the second home and the office
In partnership with the Bar Council, LexisNexis is offering up to 60% off its extensive webinar offering.
The family law system is in crisis and a failure to recognise it as such demeans the Herculean efforts of all involved, writes Celestine Greenwood, an exhausted family practitioner
Should we cap numbers coming to the Bar? Or help them make data driven decisions? asks IshanKolhatkar
Shifting the taboo, two silks talk about the menopause, its impact on women at the Bar and the need for a profession-wide rethink. By Lyndsey de Mestre QC and Brie Stevens-Hoare QC
In a profession which can be attached to, and defined by, archaic stereotypes, how to be yourself, explore new areas and own your own time? Here are Lennart Poulsen's 'lessons learnt'...
Other sectors have support staff in place for senior professionals, so why not the Bar? An established barrister/VA team and their matchmaker explain how they make it work
