Supreme Court: Composition

The Supreme Court: Composition

General Composition

The UK Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK.
It comprises 12 Justices, including a President and a Deputy President.
Justices are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor.

Qualifications of Justices

All Justices must have a legal background, with at least 15 years of experience as a qualified lawyer.
Justices are typically former High Court judges, although some come from the Court of Appeal.
Despite the absence of a formal age restriction, newly appointed Justices are expected to serve a non-renewable term lasting until they reach the age of 70 or a maximum of 15 years, whichever is shorter.

Process of Appointment

The appointment of Justices is executed through a transparent and merit-based process, conducted by an independent selection commission established for this purpose.
The commission follows a five-step process: advertising the vacancy, considering the applicants, consulting with key individuals, recommending a candidate and making the appointment.
The Lord Chancellor can reject the selected candidate but he must provide reasons for doing so.

Diversity among Justices

There has been criticism over the lack of diversity among Justices, as they are predominantly white, male, and from a privileged background.
As of 2021, three of the 12 Justices are female. The Supreme Court has only ever had two non-white Justices.
Efforts have been made to make the appointment process fairer and more transparent to address these concerns.

Role of President and Deputy President

The President of the Supreme Court is the highest-ranking judge in the UK and has significant responsibilities, including representing the UK judiciary domestically and internationally.
The Deputy President supports the President and will act in this capacity if the President is unable to fulfil his or her duties.
Both the President and the Deputy President are appointed from among the Justices.