Judicial Appointments and Silk
This Page provides relevant information to the Bar about Judical Appointments and Silk
Judicial Appointments
The Judicial Appointments Commission was launched in the Spring 2006.
The Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission are committed to ensuring a judiciary of the highest calibre, with candidates drawn from the widest possible range of available talent.
The Bar Council is committed to working with the Judicial Appointments Commission to achieve its aims.
The Chairman of the Bar is a member of the Judicial Appointments Commission’s High Level Policy group and the Bar Council is represented on the Diversity Forum by Ingrid Simler QC and Rabinder Singh QC. The Equality and Diversity Advisers attend the Judicial Appointments Commission’s Research Forum.
All details of the Judicial Appointments Commission’s selection exercises, consultations and other information such as the competency framework, eligibility criteria and good character guidance can be found on the Judicial Appointments Commission website.
Outreach Events
Information on outreach events planned for 2008 can be found on the JAC website. The Bar Council held an event in June in advance of the Recorder competition on the Midland Circuit. The aim was to encourage more women and ethnic minority barristers to apply to become Recorders.
JAC Newsletter
Judging Your Future is the JAC e-Newspaper. It contains news about current and forthcoming selection exercises. It also includes information about the judicial appointments and latest developments.
Work-Shadowing
The Directorate of Judicial Office is responsible for the administration of the work-shadowing scheme. Details can be found on their website.
Circuit Diversity Mentors
At the request of the Chairman of the Bar each Circuit has appointed a Diversity Mentor as the first point of contact for barristers interested in applying for a judicial appointment or Silk. The role of the Diversity Mentor is to encourage suitably qualified members of Circuit to apply for a judicial appointment or Silk and to provide them with all the necessary information. The Diversity Mentors are South Eastern Circuit: Mohammed Khamisa QC; Midland Circuit: Nirmal Shant QC; Northern Circuit: Nick Clark QC; North Eastern Circuit: Brian Cox QC; Western Circuit: Jane Miller QC and Wales Circuit, Ruth Hanke QC and Andrew Keyser QC.
Silk
The process for the award of Queen’s Counsel was agreed between the Bar Council and the Law Society and approved by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Falconer) in 2004. The selection panel carried out an initial competition under the new arrangements in 2005-06; a further competition took place in 2007-08. For further information about application and selection for Queen’s Counsel see the website.
Judicial Opportunities
Further information is available here.
