We note with interest the article on judicial appointments, including the list of forthcoming vacancies and the statement by the chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission that his job is to make the process of selecting judges transparent and fair, so that the very best person is appointed to the job.

He says: ‘The days of the "tap on the shoulder" are over; appointments are made on merit, not on who you know.’ I am sure everyone supports this change.

We wonder why such an admirable and open process was not followed in relation to the appointment of the working party established to implement the Jackson reforms of civil litigation costs, which seems to rely on the ‘tap on the shoulder’ and who you know system, as indeed did the whole Jackson consultation process.

Bearing in mind that Jackson will affect us all, I am sure we would all like to know how this working party was chosen and by whom.

Kerry Underwood, Underwoods and Law Abroad, Andrew Twambley, Amelans and injurylawyers4u