Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 9
9
In the meantime, the Department is relying on using part-time judges (recorders) to provide the...
Conclusion
In the meantime, the Department is relying on using part-time judges (recorders) to provide the additional judicial capacity it needs. It recruited 104 crime recorders in the last recruitment round, and is looking to expand numbers further significantly. The Department told us that currently recorders are not working as many days as it expected, and so is working with the judiciary to encourage recorders to work more days.13 Increasing the amount of work that recorders undertake as judges means they have less time in their substantive roles as criminal barristers and solicitors. The Bar Council, Law Society and Criminal Bar Association all reported there are already severe pressures in recruiting and retaining criminal barristers and solicitors.14
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
3.5 To meet the needs of court recovery, recruitment for 70 Circuit Judges and 125 Recorders commences in 2022. Should there be shortfalls, these will be mitigated by: • increasing Recorder recruitment where there are higher numbers of appointable candidates and increasing Recorder sittings. All crime Recorders can sit 80 days in 2022- 2023 (rather than usual maximum of 30) and where there is a business justification, the maximum has been raised to 180 days;