Recruitment of the Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission
The Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Michael Gove has written to the Chair of the Justice Select Committee about his preferred candidate for the post of the Chair of Judicial Appointments Commission.
I am responsible for the appointment of the Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) - a role that is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Justice Select Committee. I am pleased to formally put forward my preferred candidate for the Committee’s consideration, Lord Kakkar.
Lord Kakkar is Professor of Surgery at University College London and as Chairman has been a key figure in the establishment of UCL Partners (an academic health science partnership with over 40 higher education and NHS members). He is one of the UK’s leading clinical academics and a global authority on thrombosis research.
In 2010 he became a Cross-Bench Peer and has held the role of Chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) since 2013. He is also a member of the General Medical Council, as well as being a UK Business Ambassador for Healthcare and Life Science.
I can confirm that all candidates were informed that this position is subject to scrutiny by the Justice Select Committee and Lord Kakkar has been informed of the arrangements that have been made for the Committee to consider his appointment on Tuesday 12 July.
The recruitment campaign followed the process described in my earlier letter to you.
I look forward to receiving the outcome of the Committee’s deliberations and I shall consider carefully the committee’s conclusions before deciding whether to proceed with the appointment.