Chapter 9 - Appointments to the senior judiciary

Question 1

Who traditionally made appointments to the judiciary?

Answer 1

The monarch (on advice of the PM and Lord Chancellor)

Question 2

Who is currently Lord Chancellor?

Answer 2

Michael Gove

Question 3

Why was the old judiciary appointment system criticized?

Answer 3

Judges were almost exclusively drawn from narrow circle of male, white, older Oxbridge graduates

Question 4

Define the term Senior Judiciary

Answer 4

Comprises of the justices of the Supreme Court, heads of divisions, Lords Justices of Appeal, High Court judges

Question 5

Define Secret Soundings

Answer 5

The informal and secretive way in which most senior judges were once appointed. Lord Chancellor consulted with close associates and those already part of the Senior Judiciary

Question 6

What reform act made changes to the Judiciary system in 2005?

Answer 6

The Constitutional Reform Act

Question 7

In 2008, 21 High Court judges approved by Judicial Appointments Committee. 10 were appointed. Criticized as…

Answer 7

They were all white, male, former barristers, and 6 of the 9 educated in the UK went to leading independent schools

Question 8

How many of the 161 senior level judges were Black Ethnic Minorities?

Answer 8

4

Question 9

Who were the founding justices of the Supreme Court?

Answer 9

Those who were active Law Lords October 2009

Question 10

Who was the first President of the Supreme Court?

Answer 10

Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers

Question 11

In 2009 one of the Law Lords decided to remain in Parliament instead of becoming a Supreme Court Judge. What role did he assume?

Answer 11

Master of the Rolls

Question 12

How many female Supreme Court Justices are there?

Answer 12

1

Question 13

What number of Supreme Court Justices have attended Oxbridge colleges?

Answer 13

10

Question 14

What is the average age of Supreme Court Justices?

Answer 14

68

Question 15

What qualifications does a judge need to sit in the Supreme Court? (2)

Answer 15

Have held high judicial office for at least 2 years

Been a qualifying practitioner for a period of 15 years

Question 16

The selection commission consists of 5 members (name 3)

Answer 16

President of the Supreme Court
Deputy president of the Supreme Court
One member of Judicial Appointments Committee
One member of JA board for Scotland
One member of NI JAC

Question 17

Define qualifying practitioner

Answer 17

Someone who has a senior courts qualification, an advocate in Scotland (or solicitor entitled to appear in Scottish Court of Session & the High Court Judiciary), or a member of Bar of NI