Zahra Ahmed, Nicola Cockburn and Joanne Fazakerley have been
appointed as Commissioners of the Criminal Cases Review
Commission (CCRC) for 3 years from 1 June 2021.
The CCRC is an independent body, set up by the Criminal
Appeal Act 1995, to investigate possible miscarriages of
justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The CCRC decides if there is any new evidence or new argument
which raises a real possibility that an appeal court would
quash a conviction or reduce a sentence.
Appointments to the CCRC are regulated by the Commissioner
for Public Appointments and comply with the Governance Code
on Public Appointments.
Biographies
Zahra Ahmed
Zahra Ahmed is a practising barrister with specialist
experience in regulatory, public law, immigration, and crime.
Zahra has a practice in the regulation of health care
professionals. She provides legal advice and recommendations
on the disposal of cases, in order to assist regulators in
discharging the duty to protect the public. Zahra presents
cases before professional disciplinary panels and she has
previously worked as an in house lawyer at the General
Pharmaceutical Council.
Zahra has been instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service,
the Serious Fraud Office and as Junior Counsel to the
Undercover Policing Inquiry
Nicola Cockburn
Nicola Cockburn is Judge of the First-tier Tribunal,
Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
Joanne Fazakerley
Joanne Fazakerley is a solicitor and is currently a
consultant at Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors. Previously,
Joanne was a solicitor at Hogan’s Solicitors.
