Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland

Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland is public body responsible for making recommendations on appointments to judicial offices in Scotland. It commenced work in June 2002 under the Chairmanship of Sir Neil McIntosh CBE DL, and is appointed by the Scottish Ministers and is a quango of the Scottish Government. [Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland: cite web|title=About the Board |url=http://www.judicialappointmentsscotland.gov.uk/judicial/JUD_Main.jsp?pContentID=438&p_applic=CCC&pMenu0=44&p_service=Content.show&|publisher=Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland |accessdate=2007-11-19] All recommendations are made to the First Minister of Scotland, who must consult the Lord President of the Court of Session before making his or her recommendation to the Queen of the United Kingdom. [Appointments process: cite web|title=Office of Sheriff |url=http://www.judicialappointmentsscotland.gov.uk/judicial/files/Office_Sheriff.pdf|publisher=Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland |accessdate=2007-11-19]

Remit

The Board's remit is to:

*Provide the First Minister with a list of candidates recommended for appointment to the offices of Senator of the College of Justice, Sheriff Principal, Sheriff and Part-time Sheriff.
*Make such recommendations on merit, but in addition to consider ways of recruiting a Judiciary which is as representative as possible of the communities which they serve.
*Undertake the recruitment and assessment process in an efficient and effective way.

The Board comprises 10 members, including the Chairman, who were all appointed by the Scottish Ministers, to whom the Board is responsible for its activities. There is an even balance of legal and lay members. The Board is serviced by a dedicated Secretariat, based in Edinburgh.

Criticism

The method of creating the Board and appointing members was not without criticism. The Law Society of Scotland in its members' magazine "Journal" was critical that the appointments process did not follow procedures recommended by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, and the Chair of the Board is a lay member, a situation said to be "unique in Europe", where the norm is for self-governing bodies to control judicial appointments. [Criticism of the Judicial Appointments Board on the ground that it lacks any real authority: cite web|title=The Judicial Appointments Board – a misnomer |url=http://www.journalonline.co.uk/article/1000263.aspx|publisher=Law Society of Scotland |accessdate=2007-11-19]

Sir Neil McIntosh, Chair, was critical that the Scottish Executive did not put the Board on a statutory footing, as is the case for the Judicial Appointments Commission in England. [News Release: cite web|title=Judicial Appointments Board |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2006/11/30152026|publisher=Scottish Government |accessdate=2007-11-19]

The Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill, introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 30 January 2008, would put the Board on a statutory footing. [ [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/06-JudiciaryCourts/index.htm Scottish Parliament material on Bill] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.judicialappointmentsscotland.gov.uk Official website]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Judicial Appointments Commission — The Judicial Appointments Commission is responsible for selecting judges in England and Wales. It is a Non Departmental Public Body body which was created on 3 April 2006 as part of the reforms following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. It… …   Wikipedia

  • Judicial appointments in Canada — Canada is a federation composed of a federal (central) government and of 10 provinces and 3 territories. There are two levels of courts in each province or territory (except Nunavut): superior (upper level) courts appointed by the federal… …   Wikipedia

  • Judicial functions of the House of Lords — This article is part of the series: Courts of England and Wales Law of England and Wales …   Wikipedia

  • Scotland — /skot leuhnd/, n. a division of the United Kingdom in the N part of Great Britain. 5,205,000; 30,412 sq. mi. (78,772 sq. km). Cap.: Edinburgh. * * * I Northernmost country of the United Kingdom. Area: 30,421 sq mi (78,789 sq km). Population… …   Universalium

  • Judicial Committee of the Privy Council — Privy Council Established 1833 Jurisdiction Certain members of the Commonwealth of Nations Location Middlesex Guildhall, London Authorized by HM Government via the Judicial Committee Act 1833 …   Wikipedia

  • Courts of Scotland — Scots law This article is part of the series: Law of Scotland Administration …   Wikipedia

  • District Courts of Scotland — Scots law This article is part of the series: Law of Scotland Administration …   Wikipedia

  • Court of Exchequer (Scotland) — Scots law This article is part of the series: Law of Scotland Administration …   Wikipedia

  • Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) — The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) in Scotland, is a public body based in Falkirk as part of the Scottish Court Service, established in April 2001 following the passing of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. History Scots law… …   Wikipedia

  • Judicial officers of the Republic of Singapore — The judicial officers of the Republic of Singapore work in the Supreme Court and the Subordinate Courts to hear and determine disputes between litigants in civil cases and, in criminal matters, to determine the liability of accused persons and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”