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© Copyright, Judicial Appointments Commission 2026.

JAC Board minutes December 2025

Published:

11 December 2025

Present (Back to top)

Commissioners:

Helen Pitcher (Chair)
Mark Warby (Vice Chair)
Nicolina Andall
Noel Arnold
Tom Cross
Siwan Davies
Uchechi Igbokwe
Tanweer Ikram
Clive Lane
Clare McGlynn
Sarah Pittam

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 Digital Delivery and Programme Office
Head of Selection Policy
Head of Diversity, Engagement and Communications
Head of Analysis and Insight
Senior Policy Advisor
Selection Exercise Manager
Head of Secretariat
Secretariat Manager
Senior Executive Assistant
Secretariat Support Officer

Observer:

Barry Morgan

1. Apologies and matters arising (Back to top)

  • 1.1. The minutes of the 9 October were agreed
  • 1.2. Apologies from Chris Bones, Tony Harking, Adam Johnson and Angela Rafferty were received.

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

2.1. 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)

3.1. The Chair asked for report backs on recent meetings of committees and working groups.

Digital Board

3.2. Noel Arnold reported back on the Digital Board meeting which took place on 18 November. The Digital Board:

  • The Board reviewed the revised Digital Board terms of reference, in light of its
    refocus as the Digital Product Board, to better reflect its specific role in respect
    of the JAC’s digital online platform.
  • The Board noted the intention, as per the new digital strategy, to recruit a
    permanent inhouse technical lead, a business case for which has been drafted.
  • The Board were updated on progress against the Digital roadmap.
  • The Board reviewed the RAID log.

Audit and Risk Committee

3.3. Nicolina Andall reported back on the ARC meeting which took place on 23 October.
The ARC:

  • The Committee reviewed the Corporate Risk Register, receiving an update on
    the rollout of JSAF, and reflecting on the risk management training received by
    the Board in October
  • The Committee reviewed the Q2 financial accounts and was content with the
    analytical review of expenditure over the six-month period
  • Internal audit provided their mid-year update, confirming they were on track to deliver the remaining audits planned for the year.

4. Chair’s Report (Back to top)

4.1. The Chair reported back on the following:

  • The Chair took part in a visit from a Malaysian international delegation to the
    JAC on 16th October
  • The Chair attended the Tripartite meeting with colleagues from NIJAC and
    JABS, each party providing each other with updates on how work has
    progressed since the Tripartite, on 5th November
  • The Chair attended a JAC-led outreach event, alongside Mark Warby and Chris
    Bones, which served as an introduction to Judicial appointments and the JSAF,
    on 19th November
  • The Chair had their termly meeting with the Lady Chief Justice on 24th
    November
  • The Chair gave evidence to the SSRB oral evidence session on 25th November

5. For Information: JAC Website Update (Back to top)

5.1. The Head of Diversity, Engagement and Communications presented the work
undertaken by the executive to rebuild and relaunch the JAC website.

5.2. The Board noted the new JAC Website design, the plan for launch and the areas of focus for further development.

6. Statistical Insight from the 2025 Diversity of Judiciary Report (Back to top)

6.1. The Head of Analysis and Insight presented the proposal regarding statistical insights taken from the most recent Diversity of the Judiciary report
6.2. The Board noted the insights taken from the most recent Diversity of the Judiciary report.
6.3. The Board noted areas they wished for additional information to be included.
6.4. The Board approved plans for insights to be published as part of the JAC Diversity Update, contingent on additional information being provided, and approved plans for further analytical work to be conducted.

7. Statutory Consultation Evaluation – Publication for approval (Back to top)

7.1. The Senior Policy Advisor presented the proposal to revise guidance documents in relation to the statutory consultation process.
7.2. The Board noted the draft guidance.
7.3. The Board approved the draft guidance subject to several identified changes to language being made, and approved the plan for its publication.

8. Statutory Consultation Decision (Back to top)

8.1. The Senior Policy Advisor presented the proposal regarding the application of
Statutory Consultation on individual upcoming exercises.
8.2. The Board discussed and gave guidance on the approach to one exercise.
8.3. The Board noted and approved the proposals for all other exercises.

9. Board Effectiveness Review – Action Plan (Back to top)

9.1. The Head of Secretariat presented the proposal regarding the external Board
Effectiveness Review conducted in 2025, and associated action plan to implement
recommendations.
9.2. The Board noted and approved the proposed action plan.

10. Process Paper – 00291 Circuit Judge (Back to top)

10.1.The Selection Exercise Manager presented the proposals for the selection process for 00291 Circuit Judge.
10.2.The Board noted and agreed to the proposed process.

11. Process Paper – 00296 Salaried Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Back to top)

11.1.The Selection Exercise Manager presented the proposals for the selection process for 00296 Salaried Judge of the First-tier Tribunal
11.2.The Board noted and agreed to the proposed process.

12. S94 list review UTIAC (Back to top)

12.1.The Head of Digital Delivery and Programme Office presented the proposal for the s94 list review of the Upper Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
12.2.The Board noted and agreed to the proposed action.

13. JAC Interim Governance Arrangements (Back to top)

13.1.The Chief Executive presented proposals for governance arrangements for the interim period in which the JAC would be without a Chair.
13.2.The Board noted and approved the proposals.

14. Forward Look and AOB (Back to top)

14.1.The Board noted the 2026 Forward Look, and the Chair confirmed that the next Board meeting would be an Extraordinary Board meeting held on 29 January 2026.
14.2.The Board and Executive expressed thanks to Helen Pitcher for her time as Chair of the JAC.

This concluded the business of the Board.