The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC): Circuit Judge Application Seminar 2022

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) will be launching a selection exercise in 2022, to recruit Circuit Judges.

the seminar

This seminar is organized on behalf of the Judicial Diversity Committee to assist with implementation of the Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new tab).

The seminar will take place online via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 25 May 2022 at
5pm – 6pm for those interested in applying for appointment.

The seminar aims to help applicants be better prepared to make an application and to receive up-to-date guidance and advice on the JAC’s selection process. You will hear from Circuit Judges and a representative from the JAC.

Who should attend?

All lawyers and judicial office holders interested in applying for a Circuit Judge position may attend. Applications are particularly welcome from under-represented groups.

Please note that 7 years’ legal post qualification experience is needed for those seeking appointment to the role through the JAC’s selection exercise.

Overview of the role

Circuit Judges sit in the Crown, County Courts and Family Courts. It is the responsibility of the judge to exercise control over proceedings, both during the pre-trial stage and when presiding over the trial itself, ensuring the proceedings are conducted efficiently and fairly.

Judges sitting in the civil jurisdiction are expected to deal with the whole range of civil cases in the County Court, including: personal injury and clinical negligence claims, consumer credit and other cases involving personal debt, and housing and possession disputes, often involving actions by mortgage lenders or landlords.

Judges sitting in the crime jurisdiction are expected to deal with a broad range of criminal cases in the Crown Court. When presiding over a trial, a judge must balance the right of the defendant to a fair trial with the interests of the victims and witnesses. The judge must maintain order in the courtroom, and ensure the case is presented to the jury in a comprehensible fashion. The judge will also be required to pass sentence in the event of a guilty plea or conviction by the jury.

In the family jurisdiction, judges deals with a broad range of cases including those relating to financial relief, private children’s cases and public children’s cases. Following a contested family hearing it will be necessary to deliver a reasoned judgment, often extempore, making appropriate findings of fact and applying the law in a way which makes clear to the parties why the court has reached its decision. Family cases can involve high emotions which must be effectively managed by the judge.

If you have any queries regarding the seminar or would like to ask a question to the panel then please email: [email protected]

seminar

Please register for this seminar here (external link, opens in a new tab).

If you have any queries regarding the seminar or would like to ask a question to the panel then please email: [email protected]

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