Judicial Appointments Commission

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

It is our statutory duty to select people on merit, who are of good character. We believe the judiciary should reflect the society it serves and we aim 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.

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Announcements

JAC publishes latest diversity update

20 May 2021

We have today published our latest diversity update. The update details our ongoing work to attract and better prepare potential candidates from under-represented groups for judicial appointments and ensure selection processes are fair and non-discriminatory. We publish diversity updates twice a year.

Read more

Judicial Appointments Commission launches international research project

desk globe on table19 May 2021

We have commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to lead a research project into measures used successfully by other common law jurisdictions to improve judicial diversity – to better understand how these might be used in England and Wales.

The study will be run over the next 6 months and will include a review of existing literature alongside stakeholder consultation.

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Refreshed Strategy 2020-23 and 2021-22 Business Plan published

10 May 2021

Today we have published our refreshed strategy for 2020-23 which incorporates our Business Plan 2021-22.

The strategy has been updated and reviewed by the Board to consider updated priorities in light of the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and remote working. You can see the final strategy here.

Read more.

The Board of Commissioners

The Commission

Members come from a wide background to ensure the Commission has a breadth of knowledge, expertise and independence.

The Chairman of the Commission is a lay member. 

Of the 14 other Commissioners:

  • 6 must be judicial members (including 2 tribunal judges)
  • 2 must be professional members (each of which must hold a qualification listed below but must not hold the same qualification as each other)
  • 5 must be lay members
  • 1 must be a non-legally qualified judicial member

The legal qualifications are:

  • Barrister in England and Wales
  • Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives

Appointment of Commissioners

Professor Lord Ajay Kakkar

Chairman

Lay Commissioner

Lord Kakkar was appointed JAC Chairman on 3 October 2016. He was reappointed for a further 3 years from 2 October 2019.

He is Professor of Surgery, University College London, Chairman of University College London Partners Academic Health Science Partnership and Director of the Thrombosis Research Institute, London.

Lord Kakkar was created a Life Peer in 2010 and sits on the cross benches of the House of Lords. He served as Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission from 2013 to 2018, and was appointed a member of the Privy Council in December 2014.

Reappointment of Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission