The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is an independent commission that selects candidates for judicial office in courts and tribunals in England and Wales, and for some tribunals whose jurisdiction extends to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
It selects candidates for judicial office on merit, through fair and open competition, from the widest range of eligible candidates.
The JAC was set up in order to maintain and strengthen judicial independence by taking responsibility for selecting candidates for judicial office out of the hands of the Lord Chancellor and making the appointments process clearer and more accountable.
The Chairman of the JAC is Chris Stephens.
The composition of the JAC is set out in Schedule 12 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. There are 15 Commissioners, including the Chairman. Commissioners serve for terms up to five years.
Under the terms of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, 12 Commissioners (including the Chairman) are appointed through open competition and three are nominated by the Judges' Council.
