Role of Commissioners

We select people for judicial office on merit and good character.

We do this through fair and open competition and by selecting from the widest possible range of applicants.

We are also an appointing body; selecting, appointing and re-appointing to non-Crown judicial offices. These are mainly fee-paid posts in various courts and tribunals in Northern Ireland.

We have the power to determine some aspects of Terms and Conditions for those judicial offices whose terms have not been set by the Lord Chancellor.

Additionally, we have joint responsibility with the Department of Justice for the judicial complement.

NIJAC Key Roles

Our key roles are:

  • To conduct the appointments process and to select and appoint, or select  and make recommendation for appointment, in respect of listed judicial offices up to, and including, High Court Judge.
  • To recommend individuals solely on the basis of merit.
  • To engage in a programme of action to secure, as far as it is reasonably practicable to do so, that appointments or recommendations for appointment to judicial office are reflective of the community in Northern Ireland.
  • To engage in a programme of action to secure, as far as it is reasonably practicable to do so, that a range of persons reflective of the community in Northern Ireland is available for consideration by the Commission whenever it is required to appoint a person, or recommend a person for appointment, to a listed judicial office.
  • To publish an annual report setting out activities and accounts for the past year.

Committee Structure

We are responsible for ensuring NIJAC fulfils all of its statutory obligations and our work is progressed through a Committee structure. The three Committees are:

  • Audit and Risk Management Committee;
  • Business Committee; and
  • Policy Committee.

Each of the above, can set up other sub-Committees, on an ad hoc basis, to support particular areas of NIJAC’s work e.g. Medical Research Group.

The plenary session of NIJAC normally meets every two months, although exceptional meetings are convened as required. The approved minutes of the Plenary Commission are published. The Chairman and Chief Executive of NIJAC determine the programme of meetings and business each year, both for the Plenary Commission and its Committees.