This research project, led by Professor John Morison for the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC), has underpinned changes to the judicial appointments

The research mapped out (a) ways to increase the representation of women (b) how to encourage applications from younger candidates, solicitors and appropriately qualified candidates in public service and the voluntary sectors and (c) how to overcome difficulties which the research had confirmed regarding recruitment to the High Court, emphasizing the importance of developing a “judicial career” that encourages movement from one tier to the next, in particular from the County Court to the High Court. This led directly to a significantly more reflective applicant pool for judicial office and the appointment of a more diverse judiciary. In particular, a policy to tackle the under-representation of women at all levels in the court system was developed by NIJAC based directly upon the QUB research.

The project led to the publication of three reports commissioned by the NIJAC which, together with the related scholarly outputs, have had a direct, far-reaching and on-going impact on NIJAC’s operational policies. The research highlighted the contributed to the changing profile of the judiciary at all levels.

Find out more about Professor Morison's Research.