§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Attorney-General whether he will give the rules, if any, applying an age limit of appointment for justices of the peace; and to what extent this age limit is applied to QCs, judges and others holding judiciary and other legal appointments.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThere is no statutory limit on the maximum age of candidates for appointment as justices of the peace other than that which is implicit in the requirement that, with very limited exceptions, they may not sit judicially after they have reached the age of 70. In practice, however, in order to achieve a reasonable balance of age-groups on the magisterial benches, it has been the general policy of successive Lord Chancellors for some years to require candidates to be below the age of 60, and whenever possible well below that age. Similarly, there is no formal age limit governing the appointment of judges and the holders of other legal offices, but my noble Friend has regard to the length of time which anyone appointed may be expected to serve before reaching the retiring age.