Appointment of Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission

The Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has announced the appointment, by His Majesty The King, of Lynne Berry CBE as the Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission.

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is the statutory independent selection body for judicial appointments in the courts and tribunals of England and Wales, and for some UK-wide tribunals. The Chair is appointed by His Majesty the King on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. The appointment is for 18 months from 1 September 2026.

Ms Berry's appointment follows a report from the Justice Select Committee into her suitability for the role, published on 12 June, and a public hearing with the committee held on 10 June. 

Biography

Lynne Berry CBE is currently Chair of Governors and Pro-Chancellor at the University of Westminster, Chair of the Human Tissue Authority, and visiting Professor in Leadership at Bayes Business School, City St George's, University of London. She has served as Chair or Senior Independent Director of many public sector and not-for-profit bodies and has held several Chief Executive posts in public bodies, including the Charity Commission, the Equal Opportunities Commission and the General Social Care Council, as well as in charities such as the Royal Voluntary Service and the Family Welfare Association.