Public appointments for the Judicial Appointments Commission
Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of six new Commissioners and re-appointment of Professor Lloyd as a Commissioner and of Christopher Stephens as Chair of the JAC.
The Lord Chancellor today announced the appointment by Her Majesty the Queen of District Judge Christopher Simmonds, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, Katharine Rainsford, Professor Emily Jackson, Debra van Gene and Sir Andrew Ridgway as Commissioners of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). These appointments, except for District Judge Simmonds and Sir Andrew Ridgway, are subject to clearance.
The Lord Chancellor would also like to announce the re-appointment by Her Majesty the Queen of Christopher Stephens as the Chair of the JAC for two years commencing 7 February 2014, and of Professor Noel Lloyd for three years commencing 1 February 2014.
These appointments, as the District Judge, Tribunal Judge, lay magistrate member and lay members of the Commission, are for a three-year period commencing 1 February 2014. Those Commissioners who are not salaried judges receive remuneration of £338 per day in respect of up to 28 days service per year.
The 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. The JAC selects candidates for judicial office on merit, through fair and open competition, from the widest range of eligible candidates.
The JAC comprises a Chairman and 14 Commissioners, supported by around 65 staff.
Biographies
District Judge Christopher Simmonds
Judge Simmonds is the District Judge of the Principal Registry of the Family Division. Previously, he was the Senior Partner at Davis, Simmonds and Donaghey Solicitors.
Lucy Scott-Moncrieff
Ms Scott-Moncrieff is a Mental Health Tribunal judge, the immediate past President of the Law Society of England and Wales, a Member of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia Champion Group and the Managing Director of Scott-Moncrieff and Associates Ltd. Previously she was a Member of the Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing, a Commissioner at Postcomm and a founder member of the QC Appointments Panel.
Katharine Rainsford
Ms Rainsford is a magistrate for the North London Local Justice Area and a member of the Sentencing Council of England and Wales. Previously she was a course director for the Judicial College and ran the national courses for new bench chairmen. She was the chairman of West Hertfordshire Bench.
Professor Emily Jackson
Professor Jackson is a Professor of Law and Head of the Law Department at the London School of Economics. She was a member of the Department of Health Independent Panel to review the Liverpool Care Pathway and was Deputy Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Debra van Gene
Ms van Gene is a Non Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee for JD Wetherspoon plc. Previously she was a Partner at the international executive search firm Heidrick and Struggles, and subsequently ran her own senior executive search business.
Sir Andrew Ridgway
Sir Andrew has been a Judicial Appointments Lay Commissioner for the past two years. He is also the Chair of Cobseo (the Confederation of Service Charities) and the Chair of British Bobsleigh. Prior to his appointment as a Judicial Appointments Commissioner, he was the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey and before that he served for 38 years in the Army.
The appointments were made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any is declared) to be made public. All have declared that they have not been involved in any political activity.