Bias fears over judicial appointments head | Law

Merging the leadership of the bodies that investigate miscarriages of justice and appoint judges risks “damaging” conflicts of interest and “bias”, senior lawyers and legal academics are warning.

Ministers announced just before Christmas that MPs on the justice committee had rubber-stamped the appointment of Helen Pitcher, who leads the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), as head of the judicial appointment process.

Pitcher, who holds several other non-executive roles and was appointed OBE for services to business in 2015, will spend two days a week on each job.

Lord Burnett of Maldon, the lord chief justice, is to retire in September, meaning the judicial appointments role will be under scrutiny

Lord Burnett of Maldon, the lord chief justice, is to retire in September, meaning the judicial appointments role will be under scrutiny

PETER SUMMERS/GETTY IMAGES

The judicial appointments role will be in the spotlight this year as the lord chief justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, the most senior judge in England and Wales, has announced that he will stand down in September and

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