Justice Minister Jim Wallace heralded the Judicial Appointments Board as a new and innovative process which better reflected the judicial expectations of a modern democracy ( Scottish Executive news release, 31/05/02 ).

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Justice Minister Jim Wallace heralded the Judicial Appointments Board as a new and innovative process which better reflected the judicial expectations of a modern democracy ( Scottish Executive news release, 31/05/02 ). We will first list some of the historical and practical reasons behind the Scottish Executive's need to establish such a body together with it's functions, processes and structure. Then we will discuss some of the affects and aspirations in establishing this Judicial Appointments Board following which we should be better able to comment and conclude as to the benefits or otherwise of this newly established group.

In Great Britain for some years there has been a growing body of opinion and commentary for an independent Commission of Judges, lawyers and lay-persons and the abandoning of the " old boy network " with it's reliance on secret and potentially prejudiced methods in favour of a more transparent process of selection on merit ( Bates et. al, 1999 ).

In 1997 Lord Irvine announced plans for consultation and reform regarding this process in England and Wales ( Bates et al, 1999 ) Subsequently, according to Bates et al, it was announced that