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Who we are The CommissionersThe
Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (as amended) provides for
the composition of the Judicial Appointments Commission.
There
are 13 Commissioners, including the Chairman, The Right
Honourable the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Brian
Kerr.
The Commission members include 5 members of the judiciary,
one from each of the different judicial tiers, nominated by the
Lord Chief Justice.
The judicial tiers are:
- a Lord Justice of Appeal;
- a High Court judge;
- a County Court judge;
- a District judge (Magistrates' Court); and
- a Lay Magistrate.
There are also two legal professional members. This includes
one barrister nominated by the General Council of the Bar of
Northern Ireland and one solicitor nominated by the Law Society
of Northern Ireland. There are also five lay members.
Profiles of all Commissioners can be viewed
here.
NIJAC Staff
The Commissioners and members of staff at
NIJAC have very different responsibilities.
The Commissioners are responsible for the strategic direction
and overseeing all appointments and outreach activities. They
are effectively the Management Board to whom the members of
staff report.
Members of staff are responsible for the day to day
management of the Commission. Under a recently introduced scheme
of delegation, the Commissioners are handing over the strategic,
management and administrative functions of the Commission.
The staff consists of 16 people, including a new Chief
Executive (Edward Gorringe) and Senior Management Team who were
directly recruited in 2007/2008 because of their knowledge and
experience of Human Resources, Law, Governance and Personnel
issues.
The Commission staff have four key responsibilities:
- To conduct the appointments process and make
recommendations to the Lord Chancellor in respect of all
appointments up to and including High Court Judge.
- To recommend candidates on the basis of merit using
transparent procedures that will enhance public confidence
in the appointment process and to secure, so far as is
reasonably practicable, a judiciary that is reflective of
the community.
- To engage in a programme of action, as far as is
reasonably practicable, to ensure that a range of persons
reflective of the community in Northern Ireland is available
for consideration by the Commission for appointment.
- To publish an annual report setting out their activities
and its accounts for the past year.
To read more about each senior member of staff, their area of
work and expertise, please
click here.
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