Society must listen to solicitors in call for judicial reform

The positive feedback on the judiciary from solicitors who shadow judges must be taken into account by the Law Society in its campaign for reform of the system, Vice-President David McIntosh said this week.Addressing a seminar on reaching the bench, Mr McIntosh appeared more conciliatory on the issue of judicial appointments; the Society has withdrawn from secret soundings, which it says discriminate against solicitors, women and minorities.

It has called for an independent judicial appointments commission.Of the 129 participants who shadowed judges this year, 71 were solicitors.

Their feedback has been broadly positive which is something the Society must take into account, he said.Mr McIntosh added: Whilst the Law Society is not alone in remaining disappointed that its call for an independent judicial appointments commission has not yet been answered, much has been done to open up and de-mystify the process.Neil Rose