§ Mr. CameronTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many acting members of the judiciary also practise as solicitors; and if he will make a statement. [44607]
§ Mr. WillsThe number of members of the part-time judiciary in the courts and tribunals who are solicitors is 2,019. The Lord Chancellor encourages and welcomes applications for judicial office from solicitors and considers that they perform an important and vital function as part-time judges.
§ Mr. CameronTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in what circumstances he is able to exercise his power to investigate the personal conduct of members of the judiciary. [44424]
§ Mr. WillsAs Head of the Judiciary the Lord Chancellor is able to consider and investigate complaints about the personal conduct of individual judges and other judicial office holders.
It is not open to the Lord Chancellor to comment on, or to intervene in relation to, complaints received about decisions made by a judge or any steps in the process of reasoning underlying his or her decision, or other matters involving the exercise of judicial functions.
The criteria for investigating complaints about personal conduct of members of the judiciary are set down in procedures drawn up in 1998. The system for investigating complaints has developed over the last four years and the procedures are now being revised to take these developments into account. Details will be made available to the public once the revised procedures have been finalised.