Judicial Appointments and Retirements (Age Limits) Bill (House of Commons) HCB 69

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Lady Justice Whipple takes on a new expanded role as Lead Judge for Diversity & Inclusion, Leadership Development and Wellbeing, following the appointment of Lady Justice Simler to the Supreme Court. She will build on the existing work to encourage greater diversity of people joining the judiciary, improving leadership practices and ensure that judges receive the wellbeing support they need. This role starts with immediate effect. Lord Justice Dingemans was called to the Bar in 1987 and took silk in 2002. He was leading counsel to the Hutton Inquiry (into the death of biological warfare expert and former UN weapons inspector, David Kelly, in Iraq) in 2003 and acted for the Express and Star newspapers in the Leveson Inquiry in 2011-2012. Candidates must be either a UK citizen or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland at the time of application. Other European Union citizens are not eligible to apply. Reasonable length of service Raising the retirement age will mean we can retain their invaluable experience, while ensuring that judicial roles are open to a wider pool of talent.

She will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the retirement of Mr Justice Barling. Lady Justice Whipple was admitted to the Roll as a solicitor in 1991. In 1994 she was called to the Bar and took silk in 2010. The candidates approved as High Court Judge judges are His Honour Judge Mark Wall, Her Honour Judge Mary Stacey, Nigel Poole QC, Charles Bourne QC, Rowena Collins Rice and Kelyn Bacon QC. We have no evidence that an increase in the MRA would impact adversely on public confidence in the judiciary. Public trust in the judiciary remains very high at 84%, with the Ipsos Mori Veracity Index (2020) placing judges in the top five most trusted professions This has remained consistently high since the index was first published in 1983. The King is pleased to approve the appointment of a Justice of the High Court. This appointment will take effect from 20 March 2023.hearings using remote technology are taking place each week – compared to around 550 in March 2020 – a 4000% rise. We are in a much stronger position to manage the impact of the pandemic compared to last spring, and public health experts have confirmed our measures remain sufficient to deal with the current variants of the virus. He will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the retirement of Lord Justice Simon.

Mr Justice Pushpinder Saini was called to the Bar in 1991 (Gray’s Inn) and took silk in 2008. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2017 and a High Court Judge in 2019. Brennan – The Selection of Judges for Commonwealth Courts (Canberra, 10 August 2007) (Senate Lecture Series) Since April 2006, judicial appointments have been the responsibility of an independent Judicial Appointments Commission. Lord Justice Green will bring a fresh perspective to the role, having been Chair of the Law Commission from August 2018 to November 2023. The role involves supporting the coordination of operational activity across all courts jurisdictions and close working with the Senior President of Tribunals to increase cohesion between the courts and tribunals. The Queen is pleased to approve the appointment of a Justice of the High Court. This appointment will take effect from 1 February 2021. It is anticipated that further announcements will be made.The age at which someone is appointed should allow for a reasonable length of service, which is usually between three and five years before retirement. Mr Justice Bennathan has been appointed to the South Eastern Circuit where he will succeed Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb.

She will take up appointment on 1 October 2020 consequential to the retirement of Lady Justice Rafferty. The Lady Chief Justice is pleased to announce the appointment of three new leadership judges. These roles are the Deputy Senior Presiding Judge, Vice President of the King’s Bench Division and Lead Judge for Diversity & Inclusion, Leadership Development and Wellbeing. Deputy Senior Presiding Judge

Judicial Planning Working Group

Mr Justice Saini has been appointed to the Western Circuit where he will succeed Mr Justice Garnham. The Lord Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, has announced the appointment of three Presiding Judges. Andrew Ritchie QC, aged 61 will be known as The Honourable Mr Justice Ritchie. He was Called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1985 and took Silk in 2009. The Queen is pleased to approve the appointment of a Justice of the High Court. This appointment will take effect from 1 October 2021. It is anticipated that further appointments will be announced in the coming months. In applying for any exercise, you should consider whether you can provide the full years’ service before retirement. The JAC Selection and Character Committee will decide whether a candidate will be able to provide a reasonable length of service. In doing this they will take into account the number of vacancies, application numbers and the business need for the role.

Over 290 courtrooms have been assessed as being routinely available to hold jury trials – more than before the pandemic. The majority view of those that responded to the consultation felt that raising the MRA to 75 would not lead to the public having less confidence in the judiciary. With improvements in average life expectancy in the UK and the tendency for individuals to now work for longer, a higher MRA of 75 reflects these societal changes. Additionally, the benefit for judicial resource from retention of experienced JOHs supports the effective operation of our courts and tribunals, which could help to maintain and promote public confidence in the justice system. Every HM Courts & Tribunals building – including Nightingale Courts - meets the government’s COVID-secure guidelines, and public health experts have confirmed the arrangements remain sufficient to deal with the current strains of the virus. Lord Justice Dingemans’ reappointment as Vice President of the King’s Bench Division recognises the valuable contribution he has made to the High Court since he was initially appointed to the role in 2020. His experience will enable him to continue to provide valuable support to both the President of the King’s Bench Division and the wider judiciary.

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Mr Justice Hilliard has been appointed to the North Eastern Circuit where he will succeed Mr Justice Lavender. Nightingale Courts are now up and running – the Nightingale programme has provided 50 courtrooms across the estate which enables more crime work to be dealt with. Her Honour Judge Mary Elizabeth Stacey, aged 59 will be known as The Honourable Mrs Justice Stacey. She was admitted to the Roll in 1987. She was appointed as a Fee-paid Judge of the Employment Tribunals in 1997, as an Employment Judge in in 2003, as a Circuit Judge in 2014 and as a Deputy High Court Judge sitting in the Queen’s Bench Division in 2018.