04 June 2025
The way judges are selected will change in October, when the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) implements the Judicial Skills and Abilities Framework (JSAF)
A ‘single, unified framework’ for assessing standards will be used when recruiting judges, instead of the current competency-based framework. The old system will continue to be used for judicial selection exercises launched prior to October, until those exercises conclude.
Alex McMurtrie, JAC chief executive, said the JSAF ‘maintains the high standards rightly expected of judicial office holders while improving consistency across the appointments process’.
It covers core skills areas including legal and judicial, communication and effective working.
