News: Performance Management
Plans for new appraisal system scrapped by judges
06 August 2008
Plans for an 'upward review' appraisal system for the UK's top judges have been rejected.
Strongly supported by senior City litigators, the proposals would have seen the judges appraised by court users such as clients, solicitors and barristers, with a focus on their handling of trials rather than their legal knowledge.
A spokesperson for the Judges' Council told Legal Week the sector body had adopted the principle that appraisal of judges "should be by judges of equal or higher rank."
"The moment you suggest involving users in judicial appraisals you start treading in pretty dangerous territory and it becomes seriously problematic in terms of judicial independence," added Bar Council chairman Timothy Dutton QC.
Despite the decision to scrap the plans, backed by the Commercial Litigators' Forum, proponents are continuing to pursue the possibility of court members being able to review the performance of judges.
News of the performance-related proposals follows the April case of Mr Justice Peter Smith, who was found guilty of misconduct and reprimanded but allowed to continue sitting in court. 
