Independence day

You report that the Law Society supports the creation of a judicial appointments commission, and that the commission will satisfy three criteria, one of which is that it must be, and be seen to be, 'independent of both the government and legal profession' (see [2003] Gazette, 19 June, 3).

Can someone please explain how this can be achieved? The members of the commission cannot by definition be independent of those who appoint them.

Who will be the appointors? Nor can they be independent of the profession, unless none of them is a lawyer, and that would preclude any informed opinion on the abilities of the candidates.

William McFarland, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire