The JAC Good Character Guidance has recently been reviewed by the Commission. This updated guidance will apply to all exercises launched on or after 8 December 2011. If you are currently applying for a selection exercise that launched before this date then please refer to the guidance contained in the information pack for that exercise.

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Assessment of character in the selection process.
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is required under section 63(3) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 to select people for appointment who are of "good character".

In deciding whether there is anything in your past conduct, or present circumstances which would affect your application for judicial appointment, you are required to declare:

• all matters as they affect you;

• all matters whether or not these have been declared in a previous application;  and

• all matters even if you have already been selected for judicial office or are/have been a judicial office holder. 

This is a continuing responsibility throughout the process for any matter that may arise up to the point of appointment.

At the initial stage, you will be primarily responsible for satisfying yourself of the acceptability of your application when judged against the JAC Good Character Guidance (available on this website as a PDF download). Please refer to this Guidance when completing the character section of the application form.

The JAC will make an assessment of the character issues declared on the application form and the character checks made with professional checking bodies normally after the selection day stage of the selection process. If you do not meet the high standards required of judicial office holders, your application will not be allowed to proceed further. The JAC will make its decision on character before making any recommendation to the Lord Chancellor. It is therefore in your own interest to ensure that your assessment is realistic.