Miscellaneous
Section 106 : Consultation on appointment of lay justices
315.Section 106 inserts a new subsection (2A) into Section 10 of the Courts Act 2003, which sets out the appointments process for lay justices. This provision provides that, in following the two stage process of appointment and assignment provided for in the Courts Act, the Lord Chancellor will be obliged to consult people who have special knowledge of matters relevant to the appointment of a lay justice for a particular area. In practice, the Lord Chancellor is likely to meet this requirement by consulting the local Advisory Committee.
Section 107: Disclosure of information to Commission
316.Section 107 allows the Commission to carry out confidential checks on applicants for judicial appointment. If an applicant is selected for appointment checks may be carried out with the police, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the National Crime Squad and HM Revenue and Customs. The Lord Chancellor will also be able to designate by order under the negative resolution procedure other bodies with which confidential checks may be made. These are likely to include the Law Society in relation to solicitors, the Bar Council in relation to barristers, and the General Medical Council in relation to the appointment of medical practitioners to certain tribunals. The material that is required is for the purposes of deciding whether the applicant is suitable to hold judicial office.