Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Henley (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 23 March 2010.

High Court: Appointment

Question: My Lords, this matter has been sitting on the Lord Chancellor’s desk—somewhat clunkily, as the noble Lord puts it—for some three months. Does he think that a three-month delay, with its attendant uncertainty, is good for the Family Division?

Answer: My Lords, the Lord Chancellor’s policy is to maintain strict confidentiality in relation to individual appointments. The appointment will be announced after the Queen has approved it. That policy has been adopted and adhered to by successive Lord Chancellors. Therefore, I shall not comment on how long it has been on anyone’s desk. As far as we are concerned, the beginning of the process is in the public domain and it will end when the appointment is made. Other recent senior appointments, such as the President of the Supreme Court, Lord Chief Justice, President of the Queen’s Bench and others, have taken between three and eight months. Today we announced the appointment of Lord Justice Dyson, as a justice of the Supreme Court and that process took seven and a half months.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 718 c845
Session: 2009-10
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Family courts Judges Public appointments High Court Family Division
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk