JAC welcomes the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman Annual Report

The JAC welcomes Sir John Brigstocke's Annual Report and the continued scrutiny that he provides of our selection processes.

Date: 09 August 2010

We are pleased that the level of complaints he has received on judicial appointments remains very low and that he fully upheld none in the last year.   

Historically, we receive a very low level of complaints (1.1% of all applications). 

In his annual report, Sir John said (page 11):

"With a significant increase in the number of candidates for judicial appointments, we have seen an increase in the number of appointment related complaints this year, which is not unexpected; an increase of 142% (29 cases compared to 12 last year)."

"The majority of complaints stem from selection exercises where there are a high number of applicants for a small number of vacancies. There will always be those who are disappointed and surprised that they were not recommended for appointment, and some people still seem to have difficulty in accepting the competitive nature of the JAC's processes."

"Whilst the JAC looks to explain as much as they can about the process in their guidance, there continue to be issues raised by complainants over the perceived fairness of qualifying tests as a means of sifting applicants; the JAC needs to have a way to sift candidates, and I have seen no evidence that this test is unfair or inappropriate."

"Some candidates have high expectations of the written explanation (or feedback) that the JAC provides to unsuccessful candidates. I do not consider it proportionate for the JAC to respond in the level of detail requested by some, and I do not find it unreasonable that the JAC has reduced the level of detail in the explanations it provides to unsuccessful candidates."

"An increasing number of complainants expect, unreasonably in my view, to be told of their precise scores, or to be given sight of their marked papers, as part of their feedback. It is not JAC policy to disclose this information and, whilst I will have sight of this information as required for my investigations, it is not for me to disclose it to candidates."

To read the report in full, click here: http://www.judicialombudsman.gov.uk/docs/annual-report-2009-10.pdf