WIREDGOV

The Welsh Government objected to a proposal to remove a legal requirement under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, whereby the Judicial Appointments Commission, which handles judicial appointments for England and Wales, should always contain a member “with special knowledge of Wales”. The proposals were originally part of wider UK Government plans to reform the Judicial Appointment Commission and reduce the number of its Commissioners.

The UK Government’s Solicitor General introduced amendments to the Crime and Courts Bill during its passage through the House of Commons to restore the current requirement.

The current Welsh commissioner is Professor Noel Lloyd, the former Vice Chancellor of Aberystwyth University.

Carwyn Jones said:

“I’m very pleased the UK Government has listened to our concerns and accepts that its original proposal to remove distinctive Welsh representation on the Commission was wrong.

“We believe it is vital that Welsh interests are represented when judicial appointments within the joint jurisdiction of England and Wales are under consideration. This change of heart by the UK Government will now ensure this happens.”