The Judicial Office has issued guidance for judges asked to take part in research into the judicial process or other aspects of court administration or procedure.
It advises that research applications will not normally be accepted from secondary school students, undergraduates, or those undertaking post-graduate masters and other taught courses. Nor would they normally be accepted from foreign research applications.
According to the guidance, the head of division or senior presiding judge approving participation must ensure that the research is in the public interest, and that taking part will not impair judicial discretion and independence, or draw judges into areas of political controversy. The research must also not place an undue burden on the judge, identify any judge, or require the judge to comment on the merits of individual cases.
