I am honoured to have been appointed to the Judicial Appointments Commission, the body responsible for the selection of judges in England and Wales. The Commission plays a critical role in helping to ensure the judiciary is independent and diverse.
In my first book, The Woman Lawyer: making the difference, published in 1998, I recommended the establishment of an appointments commission to encourage greater representation of women in the judiciary. At that time, many of us were calling for change; for a more equitable and transparent process that would help improve diversity and equality. The JAC was subsequently established in the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005.
It is particularly heartening, therefore, 25 years later, to become a member of the Commission, with the opportunity to influence and shape the nature and processes of judicial appointments.
The appointment is made by King Charles III on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor and commences in January 2024.
For more information on the appointments, you can read the Ministry of Justice announcement and the Durham University news item.