Overview

This bill amends the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 to establish a Joint Committee on Nominations to the Supreme Court. The committee will select candidates for Supreme Court Justice positions, and the Prime Minister will be required to recommend their choice to the monarch.

Description

The bill creates a Joint Committee composed of nine members of the House of Lords and ten members of the House of Commons. The Committee's role is to:

• Investigate individuals nominated for Supreme Court Justice positions using methods such as pre-appointment hearings.
• Select a candidate to recommend to the Prime Minister for appointment or reject the candidate.
• Publish a report detailing its investigation and decision, including reasons and voting results.

The Prime Minister will be legally obligated to recommend the Committee's selected candidate to the monarch for appointment to the Supreme Court.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify any direct government spending figures. However, there will be costs associated with establishing and running the Joint Committee, including staff salaries and administrative expenses. The exact amount is not detailed within the bill.

Groups Affected

• The Prime Minister: Their role in Supreme Court appointments is altered; they are now bound to recommend the Committee's choice.
• Parliament: Both Houses will appoint members to the Joint Committee and will review any statutory instruments related to the bill.
• Supreme Court Nominees: Their candidacy will be subject to a more rigorous scrutiny process involving the Joint Committee.
• The Judiciary: The composition of the Supreme Court will be influenced by the actions of the Joint Committee.

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