Jack Straw on judicial appointments: ‘Labour went too far’ – The Guardian

Posted December 5th, 2012 in diversity, equality, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“Former lord chancellor admits reformed system does not allow talented women and ethnic minorities to be sought out.”

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The Guardian, 4th December 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

5RB Conference: Keynote address – Speech by Mr Justice Tugendhat

5RB Conference: Keynote address (PDF)

Speech by Mr Justice Tugendhat

5RB Conference, 27th September 2012

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

JAC commissioner: ‘let solicitors become judges’ – Law Society’s Gazette

“The newly-appointed solicitor commissioner to the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has expressed scepticism about targets and quotas for diversity as well as the ‘tipping point’ method of favouring under-represented groups.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 3rd May 2012

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council Welcomes Lords Constitution Committee Report on Judicial Appointments – The Bar Council

Posted March 29th, 2012 in judicial appointments commission, news, reports by sally

“The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, has welcomed the findings and recommendations of the House of Lords Constitution Committee in its report on Judicial Appointments published today. The inquiry, to which the former Chairman of the Bar, Peter Lodder QC, gave evidence, found that the principle of appointments based on merit is vital and should continue, an outcome which the Bar Council completely endorses.”

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The Bar Council, 28th March 2012

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

We need to rethink how we define merit for supreme court appointments – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2012 in diversity, judicial appointments commission, news, Supreme Court, women by sally

“Diversity is not an optional extra, it is a basic component of the court’s ability to do its job in modern society.”

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The Guardian, 26th March 2012

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lord chancellor veto raises questions for judicial standards – The Guardian

Posted December 8th, 2011 in judicial appointments commission, lord chancellor, news, veto by tracey

“Worries over judicial appointment process and quality of candidates as barrister salaries outstrip bench.”

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The Guardian, 8th December 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

First choice among equals – The Guardian

Posted November 23rd, 2011 in diversity, equality, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“It’s far from clear the government’s proposed new panel will succeed in appointing more women and BAME judges.”

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The Guardian, 22nd November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Clarke: Judiciary in need of modernisation and diversification – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, diversity, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“Sweeping new proposals that will reform, modernise and improve the diversity of judicial appointments were announced by the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 21st November 2011

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

More part-time judges would help diversify judiciary, says Ken Clarke – The Guardian

Posted November 22nd, 2011 in consultations, diversity, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“More part-timers should be put on the bench and fewer judges allowed to chair selection panels in order to improve judicial diversity, the Ministry of Justice has proposed.”

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The Guardian, 21st November 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Justice selections can only be made on merit, says Lord Phillips – The Guardian

Posted October 20th, 2011 in judicial appointments commission, judiciary, lord chancellor, news by tracey

“Judicial selection panels are ‘bending over backwards’ to appoint women and members of ethnic minorities to the bench but selections must ultimately be on merit, Lord Phillips, president of the supreme court, said on Tuesday.”

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The Guardian, 19th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Unfairly judged: gay lawyers say judiciary still plagued by homophobia – The Guardian

“Recent research shows 70% believe there is prejudice within the selection process for judicial appointments.”

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The Guardian, 6th October 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

High Court judges could be appointed without bench time – Legal Week

Posted September 8th, 2011 in judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“Aspiring Chancery High Court judges will be considered straight from private practice for the first time, as part of a bid to widen the pool of Chancery specialists making it to the senior judiciary.”

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Legal Week, 8th September 2011

Source: www.legalweek.com

Parliament could scrutinise judicial appointments – The Guardian

“As judges find themselves increasingly under attack from the current and previous governments, the rightwing press and liberals concerned about the lack of diversity in the judiciary, a House of Lords committee is looking at judicial appointments, including whether there should be US-style parliamentary confirmation hearings to increase judicial accountability.”

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The Guardian, 6th July 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Lords to debate whether parliament should scrutinise judicial appointments – The Guardian

Posted June 1st, 2011 in judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news, parliament by sally

“Should parliament scrutinise judicial appointments? That’s one of the questions to be examined by the House of Lords constitution committee as part of an inquiry it launched a couple of weeks ago. Anyone can submit evidence within the next month, so here goes.”

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The Guardian, 1st June 2011

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Judicial appointments review reports back – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 11th, 2010 in judicial appointments commission, judiciary, news by sally

“A review of the judicial appointments process and related arms-length bodies has made initial recommendations.”

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Ministry of Justice, 10th November 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Court napping, the magistrate who fell asleep at the bench – The Independent

Posted September 28th, 2010 in judicial appointments commission, magistrates, news, professional conduct by sally

“A magistrate has been removed from office after he fell asleep on the bench, causing an assault trial to collapse, the Office for Judicial Complaints said yesterday.”

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The Independent, 28th September 2010

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Solicitors vie for judicial office – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 8th, 2010 in judicial appointments commission, news, solicitors by sally

“The number of applications from solicitors for the role of civil district judge almost doubled in the last selection round, according to data published by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) last week.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 8th July 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judicial culture still deters gay and lesbian lawyers, say researchers – The Guardian

“The judiciary is failing to reflect the UK’s gay and lesbian community, experts say, as research suggests it is seriously under-represented on the bench.”

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The Guardian, 4th July 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Written tests are no guide to your ability to be a judge’ – The Times

Posted January 29th, 2009 in examinations, judicial appointments commission, judicial review, news by sally

“A judge has taken the unprecedented step of launching legal action because he failed to be shortlisted for a judicial post after sitting a new written test. David Page, 58, who has sat as a £102,000-a-year full-time immigration judge since 2002, was insulted and shocked to find that he was ruled out after two 40-minute written papers.”

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The Times, 29th January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Equality in Justice day – speeches at the Royal Courts of Justice in London – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted October 27th, 2008 in equality, judicial appointments commission, judiciary, speeches by sally

“Equality in Justice day – speeches at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.”

Full speeches

Judiciary of England and Wales, 24th October 2008

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk