Selecting Judges: Merit, Moral Courage, Judgment & Diversity

Lord Clarke examined the selection and appointment process for judges in England and Wales, and the broad and universal principles behind it.

“There are it seems to me four principles which must be given proper effect if any judiciary is to command the trust of an open democratic society today. It must be appointed through an open process. It must be appointed solely on the grounds of merit, according to clear criteria that are publicly known. It must be selected from candidates of good character, of moral courage. It must be properly diverse and reflective of society, subject to merit.”