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Judge – District judge. The defendant Judicial Appointments Commission (the JAC) rejected the claimant solicitor and deputy district judge's application for appointment as a district judge, as he had seven penalty points on his driving licence. The claimant sought judicial review. The Divisional Court, in dismissing the application, held that the JAC had been entitled to consider that public confidence in the standards of the judiciary would not be maintained if persons appointed to judicial office had more than six points endorsed on their licence. The JAC had appreciated its discretion to depart from the normal position and had not exercised it. Further, the decision had not been irrational, by virtue of the fact that the claimant continued to sit as a deputy district judge.
Judge – District judge. The defendant Judicial Appointments Commission (the JAC) rejected the claimant solicitor and deputy district judge's application for appointment as a district judge, as he had seven penalty points on his driving licence. The claimant sought judicial review. The Divisional Court, in dismissing the application, held that the JAC had been entitled to consider that public confidence in the standards of the judiciary would not be maintained if persons appointed to judicial office had more than six points endorsed on their licence. The JAC had appreciated its discretion to depart from the normal position and had not exercised it. Further, the decision had not been irrational, by virtue of the fact that the claimant continued to sit as a deputy district judge.
Chair of the Bar reports back
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, outlines the drug and alcohol testing options available for family law professionals, and how a new, free guide can help identify the most appropriate testing method for each specific case
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There is no typical day in the life as a Supreme Court judicial assistant, says Josephine Gillingwater, and that’s what makes the role so enjoyably diverse
