Judicial recruitment is in crisis, says Adrian Jack
A shocking shortfall in recruitment to the High Court and circuit benches is revealed in the latest submissions of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB). Of 14 vacancies in High Court in the most recent competition, only eight could be filled. Of 55 vacancies for circuit judges, only 44 appointments could be made. Further, in 2015 the SSRB noted that the number of “outstanding” candidates for the High Court was dropping.
In that year, for the first time, the JAC was unable to find even a “selectable” candidate to fill a Family Division vacancy, let alone an “outstanding” or “strong” applicant. The 2016 High Court competition was much worse. Only six out of ten vacancies in the Queen’s Bench Division and one out of three in the Family Division could be filled. The one post in the Chancery Division was filled. Moreover, there were only 56 applications in 2016, as against 73 (for fewer vacancies) in 2015.
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