Judicial Appointment System

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Judges perform a crucial part in the English legal system. Judiciary is one of the three arms of the government. The doctrine of separation of powers ensures that the role of the judiciary is retained independent from the legislative and executive functions of the government.
The formation of the Human Rights Act of 1998 made it easier for the judges to a strict supervision of the parliament and for the executive powers they implement.
In recent times many changes took place in relation to the judiciary. Among those, the House of Lords was replaced by the new Supreme Court as the highest court in the UK, the central role of the Lord Chancellor was condensed and the appointment procedure for judges was also changed.
The Constitutional Reforms …show more content…

An independent Supreme Court has been established separate from the House of Lords and with all its own independent appointment system, staff, budget and building. An independent Judicial Appointments Commission was also made responsible for selecting candidates to recommend for judicial appointment to the Secretary of State or Justice. The JAC ensures that the merit remains the only measure for appointment and the appointment system is up-to-date, open and transparent. An judicial appointments and conduct ombudsman was held responsible for inspecting and making recommendations regarding protests about the Judicial appointments process and management of the judicial conduct complaints within the scope of the …show more content…

The appointment process, has being criticized for being subjugated by politicians, secretive and biased. Judges receive slight training. The real concerns that the independence of the judiciary is not adequately safeguarded.
The challenge facing the new system will be to preserve the high quality of the appointments made while opening up the system so that all well qualified lawyers can compete for judicial office on a level playing field rather than in a system designed for the needs of a small group of elite members of the bar. The degree to which the process promotes diversity in the composition of the judiciary and opens up the recruitment pool to a broader range of candidates has become the litmus test by which the new judicial appointment system will be measured.
Therefore by considering the above facts it can be concluded that the changes relating to the appointment system of the judiciary are necessary and had a good impact but still there is room for more

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