Section 101: Complaints to the Ombudsman
310.Section 101 provides that the Ombudsman must consider complaints which have been made under section 100 if the complainant refers the complaint to the Ombudsman within 28 days of the complainant being notified of the Commission or Lord Chancellor’s decision in relation to their original complaint. If the Ombudsman does not think the complaint requires investigation he must inform the complainant; otherwise he must conduct an investigation. The Ombudsman has discretion to consider complaints received out of time. Any complaints made to the Ombudsman must be in a form approved by him. Section 101 goes on to provide that unresolved complaints made to the existing Commissioners for Judicial Appointments at the time these provisions are brought into force will be transferred to the Ombudsman, who will have a discretion to investigate them. No further complaints to the Commissioners for Judicial Appointments about such matters will be possible.
