Law Weblog

New Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman

Wednesday 29 June 2005 at 8:37 pm | In News | Post Comment

A new ombudsman to investigate judicial appointment complaints and handling of judicial conduct complaints is to be appointed by the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA).

The creation of this new office follows the passing of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 earlier this year. Only a person selected by a new Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), independent of ministers, may be appointed to judicial office.

The ombudsman will investigate individual complaints relating to these appointments. The ombudsman will also be able to review the handling of complaints about judicial conduct by the new Office for Judicial Complaints. The Constitutional Reform Act establishes the Judicial Appointments Commission, which will be set up next year and will take responsibility for the selection of judges in England and Wales.

Details of the ombudsman role and person specification can be found here