Explanatory Notes

Constitutional Reform Act 2005

2005 CHAPTER 4

24 March 2005

Commentary on Sections

Schedule 14: the Judicial Appointments Commission: relevant functions and offices

Section 94: Duty to identify persons for future requests

303.Section 94 enables the Commission to recruit in advance a pool of potential candidates for appointment to a particular class of posts. As requests to fill specific appointments of that class arise, they can then select people from that pool. . These people will not be guaranteed selection for actual appointments. The Lord Chancellor will initially give the Commission an indication of the numbers of people that are expected to be needed at a particular level and over a specific time. The Commission will identify suitable people taking into account the number of appointments that have been requested and report to the Lord Chancellor saying how far it has identified suitable people and provide any other information to assist the Lord Chancellor. As part of the process the Commission will be required to consult the Lord Chief Justice and someone with experience of the office concerned. If the Commission decides not to follow a recommendation made during the consultation process it must give reasons for not doing so in its report on the competition.