Judicial Commissioners reappointed

The Prime Minister has reappointed 11 of the original Judicial Commissioners for a further three-year term under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA).

Judicial Commissioners provide independent authorisation and oversight of certain investigatory powers. Of the original 13 Judicial Commissioners, Sir John Griffith-Williams and Sir Kenneth Parker have decided to retire. Sir Adrian Fulford will also continue serving as a Judicial Commissioner, having been appointed by the Prime Minister in March to assist with the work of the office during the pandemic.

The Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Sir Brian Leveson, said:

“I am extremely grateful for the work of Sir John and Sir Kenneth over the last three years. Their contributions have been exceptional and I wish them all the best for the future.

“I look forward to continuing to work with those Judicial Commissioners who are remaining with us and who have done so much to ensure public confidence in the use of investigatory powers.”

The original appointments ran from August and September 2017. Appointments are made by the Prime Minister, having consulted with Scottish Ministers, on the recommendation of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the President of the Court of Session and the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

A competition will take place in Autumn 2020 to identify two new Judicial Commissioners to work with the IPC. As set out in the IPA, Judicial Commissioners must hold or have held senior judicial appointment (under the terms of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005). Their appointments run for three years after which they can be reappointed with the agreement of those mentioned in the above paragraph.