ABSTRACT
It is, of course, inevitable, in this corner of the 21st century, that the public debate concerning judicial reform is dominated by argument over the imperfect system by which senior judges are appointed. We are living at a time of extraordinary constitutional change, not merely as result of the implementation of the Human Rights Act 1998, but also consequent upon the devolution legislation and the genesis of elected city mayors. In each case, the perceived democratic deficit is being addressed by measures that leave our senior judges with a greater constitutional role. The discharge of these new responsibilities will raise the public profile of these judges and, in turn, the system by which they achieve office is bound to become the subject of greater media scrutiny.
