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

Appointment of s9(4) Deputy High Court Judges

30 September 2021

Judicial Office has today announced the appointments of s9(4) Deputy High Court Judges, following an open competition run by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).

This exercise was an opportunity open to practitioners with or without previous judicial experience to apply to become a Deputy High Court judge in England and Wales. The JAC received 221 applications, recommending 40 candidates to post, thereby fulfilling the vacancy request.

The appointees will take up their new roles on 1 October 2021.

 

Further High Court Appointment

29 September 2021

Judicial Office has today announced the appointment of Edwin Johnson QC as a High Court Judge, following an open competition run by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC).

Edwin will take up his new role on 1 October 2021.

This is the fifth announcement of High Court Judge appointments this year. Further High Court announcements will be made over the coming months.

You can find out more about the new appointees by reading their biographies.

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