More solicitors will be appointed to the High Court as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, which comes into force in April, the Lord Chancellor said this week.

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has three members from the solicitors' profession, including former Law Society President Edward Nally. Senior circuit judge Frances Kirkham and district judge Charles Newman, both former solicitors, have also been appointed. Other commissioners include Lord Justice Auld, and Jonathan Sumption QC, joint head of Brick Court Chambers.


The JAC comprises four judicial members, a tribunal member, a lay justice member, two professional members and five lay members. The lay chairwoman is Baroness Prashar.


It will oversee appointments below High Court level from April, but will not recommend appointment to the High Court judges and above until April 2007. Lord Falconer said: 'It is an impressive team who one can have complete faith in to make sensible appointments.'