JAC Board minutes September 2025

11 September 2025

Present (Back to top)

Commissioners:

Helen Pitcher (Chairman)
Mark Warby (Vice Chair)
Nicolina Andall
Christopher Bones
Sue Hoyle
Uchechi Igbokwe
Tanweer Ikram
Adam Johnson
Clare McGlynn
Barry Morgan

Staff:

Chief Executive
Deputy Chief Executive/ Head of Strategy and Policy
Head of Operations and Digital
Head of Operational Delivery
Head of Senior Appointments
Head of Selection Policy
Head of Analysis and Insight
Senior Policy Advisor
Selection Exercise Manager
Head of Secretariat
Secretariat Manager
Senior Executive Assistant
Secretariat Support Officer

1. Apologies and matters arising (Back to top)

The minutes of the 10 July 2025 meeting were agreed.

The minutes of the 24 July 2025 extraordinary meeting were agreed.

Apologies were received from Noel Arnold, Tom Cross, and Clive Lane.

2. Chief Executive’s Report and Management Information Pack (Back to top)

The Chief Executive provided an update on:

• the 2025/26 budget allocation
• the 2025/26 Judicial recruitment programme
• performance against the 2025-26 Business Plan
• an update on complaints and ongoing litigation (legally privileged)

3. Report back from Working Groups (Back to top)

The Chairman asked Commissioners to report back on recent meetings of
committees and working groups.

Audit and Risk Committee

Nicolina Andall reported back on the Audit and Risk Committee meeting which took place on 24 July 2025. The Audit and Risk Committee:

• Reviewed the Corporate Risk Register
• Discussed the results of both the internal audit by the Government Internal Audit Agency and the external audit by the National Audit Office and Deloitte.
• The committee received confirmation that the JAC Annual Report had been laid successfully before Parliament on 17 July 2025.
• Audit and Risk Committee member Roger Dunshea, observing the board, was also invited to give his feedback from recent Audit and Risk Committee meetings.

Digital Board

Chris Bones reported back on the Digital Board meeting which took place on 24 July 2025. The Digital Board:

• Discussed the revised Digital Strategy considered by the board later in the
  meeting. It was noted that the Digital Board supported the revised strategy.
• Noted that further work had been carried out to address accessibility issues on the digital platform.
• The Digital Board reviewed the RAID log.

Welsh Matters Committee

Barry Morgan reported back on the Welsh Matters Committee meeting which took place on 12 July 2025. The Welsh Matters Committee:

• Discussed Barry Morgan meeting with Sir Gary Hickinbottom, President of Welsh Tribunals on 2 September 2025 and spoke about the now agreed Memorandum of Understanding and Welsh language interviews.
• The Committee considered the issue of Welsh Devolution Administration
  questions.

Advisory Group

Sue Hoyle reported back on the Advisory Group meeting which took place on 9 September 2025. The Advisory Group considered:

• Critical Analysis Test for Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber
• Situational Questions for:
  o Circuit Judge, Employment Appeal Tribunal
  o District Judge
  o Fee-paid Member of the First-tier Tribunal, General Regulatory Chamber
  (Information Rights)
• Role-Play for Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Courts)
• It was noted that Sue Hoyle would be stepping down from Chair of the Advisory Group as she left her role of Commissioner. Uche Igbokwe would cover the role from his position as Vice Chair while a replacement was identified. Sue was thanked for her exemplary work in the role.

4. Chairman’s Report (Back to top)

The Chairman reported back on the following:

• The Chairman met with the Law Society President Richard Atkinson and their Policy Director Lucy Dennett on 15 July 2025
• The Chairman took part in the Judicial Diversity Forum meeting on 21 July 2025
• The Chairman met with the Lady Chief Justice on 28 July 2025

5. JAC Information Management Governance (Back to top)

The Head of Corporate Services presented proposals on JAC Information
Management Governance.

The Board noted and agreed to the proposals.

6. JAC Digital Strategy (Back to top)

The Head of Operations and Digital presented proposals on the JAC Digital Strategy.

The Board noted and agreed to proposals.

7. Social Media Checks in Selection Exercises (Back to top)

The Head of Secretariat presented proposals on social media checks in selection exercises in line with the published Good Character Guidance.

The Board discussed and approved the proposals. It was agreed that a further Board proposal detailing next steps would be brought to the Board at a later date.

8. Statutory Consultation – Decision on Exercises (Back to top)

The Senior Policy Advisor presented the proposal regarding the application of
Statutory Consultation on exercises.

The Board noted and approved the proposals.

9. Process Paper – Selection process for the High Court 2025/26 (Back to top)

The Head of Senior Appointments presented the proposal on the selection process for the High Court in 2025/26.

The Board noted and agreed to the proposals.

10. Process Paper – 00287 Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Back to top)

The Selection Exercise Manager presented a proposal on the selection process for 287 Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal.

The Board noted and agreed to the proposals.

11. Forward Look and AOB (Back to top)

The Board noted the 2025 Forward Look, and the Chairman confirmed the next Board meeting will be held on 9 October 2025.

The Chairman noted that this was the final Board for Sue Hoyle and thanked her for her extensive contributions.

This concluded the business of the Board.