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Peter Causton
February 26, 2024
Judicial Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2024: Consultation on the draft regulations This consultation sets out MoJ’s proposals to amend the FPJPS, JPS15, JPS22 regulations and the Judicial Offices Order through the 2024 Amendments
Peter Causton
January 27, 2024
The Lord Chancellor has approved three new policies for the fee paid judiciary as follows: These policies are effective immediately.
Steven Gasztowicz
January 25, 2024
Members who received an options exercise pack in October 2023 are reminded that the three month period for exercising their options will close on 27th January 2024. Members should ensure they have selected their option by then (or applied for an extension of time if they have grounds for doing so). If they do not do so, the default position referred to in the pack will be applied (which may not be the member’s most advantageous option). Posted on the UKAFPJ website on 25th January 2024.
Peter Causton
January 20, 2024
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news-focus/news-focus-lcj-sets-out-her-stall-before-the-commons-justice-committee/5118481.article An interesting article about the LCJ who is quoted as saying On judicial unity, Carr needs a ‘legislative slot’ to get the structural change needed to build ‘One Judiciary’. This aims to bring the courts and tribunals closer together in terms of resources, culture and identity. ‘One Judiciary’ is already making a difference on cross-deployment, Carr acknowledged. But she also wants to make the judiciary more inclusive outside the hearing rooms. ‘We, by definition, work in a hierarchical world with routes of appeal, but outside the court we are all equal. It doesn’t mean we don’t need leadership, but […]
Steven Gasztowicz
November 22, 2023
Yvette Genn, a valued member of the Association’s Committee, has recently been appointed a circuit judge, based at Central London County Court. Yvette has helped organise events and was instrumental in the provision of remote hearings training to members during the covid pandemic. We congratulate her on her appointment and thank her for all her work. Under the rules, she will remain a member for one year following her appointment.
Peter Causton
September 29, 2023
An employment tribunal has ruled in favour of the government in a further judicial pensions dispute. In T Clayson & others v Ministry of Justice and Lord Chancellor, the tribunal said the respondents did not treat the judges, who were representative of a larger group of circuit and retired circuit judges, less favourably than comparable full-time workers on the ground that the claimants were part-time workers. https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/tribunal-deals-pensions-blow-to-judges/5117355.article It will be interesting if this goes to appeal.
Peter Causton
September 29, 2023
District Judge 2023 Applications close at 13:00 on 02 October 2023 To apply and for further details please copy the link below into your web browser (not compatible with Internet Explorer). Vacancy details | Judicial Appointments Commission
Steven Gasztowicz
May 22, 2023
The Ministry of Justice has launched a consultation paper on proposals to reform the office of Senior President of Tribunals (SPT). The proposals follow the announcement last year by the Lord Chief Justice, SPT, and then Lord Chancellor, of their desire to further a single judiciary within a unified leadership structure. The proposals would move the office of SPT to be alongside the Heads of Divisions, under the leadership of the LCJ, rather than the SPT heading a separate system. It is not intended, however, to affect the structure of the tribunals themselves. This seems unlikely to affect fee-paid courts […]
Peter Causton
May 7, 2023
NOTICE OF AND AGENDA FOR AGM TO BE HELD AT 6.00PM ON 25 May 2023 AT CORNERSTONE BARRISTERS, 2-3, GRAY’S INN SQUARE, LONDON, WC1R 5JH Notice is hereby given of the intention of the UK Association of Fee Paid Judges to hold its AGM at 6.00pm on Thursday 25 May 2023 at 2-3, Gray’s Inn Square, London, WC1R 5JH. The Agenda is as follows: 1. To receive the Annual Report and approve the Annual Accounts 3. To dispense with the need for those Accounts to be audited 4. To approve the appointment of the following Officers for 2023-24: Chair: Steven […]
Peter Causton
April 21, 2023
Interesting article in the Law Society Gazette about a judge taking the JAC to court regarding a freedom of information request https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/judge-accuses-appointments-body-of-dodging-public-scrutiny/5115789.article
Peter Causton
April 7, 2023
For the first time, last year, fee paid judges were included in the annual survey of judges. The results were published on 4 April. The link to the full survey results is as follows:https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/England-Wales-UK-Tribunals-JAS-2022-Report-for-publication.pdf Some of the findings were: Most judges, whether salaried or fee-paid, are satisfied with the sense of achievement in their job, the variety of work and challenge of the job, although fee-paid office holders have higher levels of satisfaction in all three areas.• The opportunities that are most important for salaried judges are the ability to make use of the tickets they already hold (72%) and […]
Peter Causton
March 11, 2023
It is reported that a ‘pay row between the government and judges who filled in doing higher-level work continues to rumble on after an employment appeal tribunal decided that the matter must be redetermined. Last year an employment tribunal ruled that certain judges ‘sitting up’ were treated less favourably in terms of remuneration than colleagues who sat full-time in those higher courts. This week the employment appeal tribunal remitted the case after overturning the lower court’s findings that the claimants were part-time workers in their ‘sitting up’ capacity. The Honourable Mrs Justice Heather Williams DBE said in her 82-page judgment: ‘There are many […]
Peter Causton
March 11, 2023
The Law Society Gazette and elsewhere reported that: Judges’ pension rights will be preserved, the lord chancellor has confirmed – following concern that thousands of part-time judges stood to lose billions in pension benefits. Last month Gazette columnist and legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg revealed that more than 11,000 serving or former part-time judges in England and Wales stood to lose pension benefits worth a total of £3.5bn if the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill passed and no further action was taken by Raab. Part-time judges are paid pensions under the Judicial Pensions (Fee-Paid Judges) Regulations 2017. However, these regulations had to be amended as […]
Peter Causton
March 11, 2023
The Guardian reports: Sentencing powers for magistrates have been scaled back less than a year after they were doubled in an effort to tackle the courts backlog. In May, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced magistrates in England and Wales would be able to hand out jail sentences of up to a year for a single offence – up from the previous maximum of six months – as part of efforts to deal with the number of criminal cases waiting to be heard. But on Friday the government department confirmed the plan would be paused. Although it said the measures […]
Peter Causton
March 1, 2023
Members may not be aware that there is dedicated information about judicial welfare now available: You are subscribed to News.Meet the new judicial welfare judge06-02-2023 02:00 PM GMTHer Honour Judge Katherine Tucker has Portfolio Responsibility for Welfare
Steven Gasztowicz
February 28, 2023
We are aware of concerns arising out of Joshua Rozenberg’s recent article relating to the Retained EU (Revocation and Reform) Bill. As soon as the article was brought to our attention, we sought reassurance from MoJ that Fee-Paid Judges’ pensions would be safeguarded. The Department subsequently issued a statement, which can be found on the Judicial Intranet here: Judicial Intranet | Message from MoJ: Fee-Paid Judicial Pension Scheme (judiciary.uk) This is written very much in civil service language, but the important part is that (whilst the Department will no doubt be looking at what, technically, needs to be done, if […]
Steven Gasztowicz
January 10, 2023
The Ministry of Justice has committed to remedying the discrimination identified in the case of McCloud v MoJ in 2015. The framework for this is set out in the legislation that was passed last year, the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (PSPJOA 2022). Final details for the remedy will be set out in regulations, due to be laid before Parliament in 2023. Together, these set out that for all non-claimants, the remedy will be implemented through an Options Exercise that will take place in 2023. Options Exercise The MoJ has informed us that in the Options Exercise […]
Peter Causton
December 11, 2022
The Ministry of Justice launched a consultation titled ‘Additional Fees – the case for reform’ to seek the views of the judiciary on the options for reforming the additional fees system in the tribunals, in particular those judicial office holders (JOHs) who may be directly impacted by the policy. The deadline has been extended to 24 January 2023. The aim is to align the way that JOHs are paid and booked across the courts and tribunals to improve opportunities for cross-deployment and increase parity between JOHs, in line with the aims of the ‘One Judiciary’ programme. Alongside this, the proposals aim to support increased […]
Steven Gasztowicz
October 27, 2022
This policy may be thought not to affect members as fee-paid judges; however, it might – particularly those considering going on to full-time salaried office. The Association has responded to the proposed policy changes accordingly: Consultation on Judicial Long Term Ill-Health Absence Policy This response is made on behalf of the United Kingdom Association of Fee Paid Judges. The proposed policy appears to relate to both salaried and fee paid judges, though the considerations involved appear to us to be different in relation to each. We are responding in relation to salaried posts as well as fee paid ones because […]
Steven Gasztowicz
June 14, 2022
The Judicial Attitudes Survey has been published today. For the first time it includes fee-paid judges. Previously it covered only salaried judges. The Association sought the inclusion of fee-paid judges in the survey and has been involved in its issue. It is very important that all fee-paid judges complete the survey. The last survey had an amazing 99% completion rate amongst the salaried judiciary because its importance was realised. All answers are anonymous, but they are used to address problems or deficiencies identified, as well as to continue best practice, with the aim of improving the conditions of the judiciary. […]
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The Judicial Attitudes Survey has now been published. This is the second such survey to include fee-paid judges, following representations by the Association, and we have been involved in the planning of it.
It is very important that fee-paid judges complete the survey. The response of salaried judges has always been high because they realise the importance of it. All answers are anonymous, but they are used by the Senior Judiciary to address identified problems or deficiencies, as well as to continue best practice, with the aim of improving working conditions. They also enable a better understanding of what matters are considered most important.
In addition to asking for answers to specific questions, the survey enables amplification or additional issues or concerns to be raised using the ‘additional information’ boxes in it.
Do please complete the survey, which can be accessed vis the Judicial Intranet, and encourage colleagues to do so.
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