Law Society backs plans for independent judiciary chairman

The Law Society is supporting proposals outlined by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, to appoint a lay person as chair of the new Judicial Appointments Commission.

The Society is throwing its weight behind the proposals after stating that a member of the Cabinet should not be involved in deciding the make-up of the judiciary.

Lord Falconer has also announced plans to make the Lord Chief Justice, currently Lord Woolf, the constitutionally recognised head of the judiciary with the additional title of President of the Courts of England and Wales.