Judge accuses appointments body of dodging public scrutiny
The article highlights a significant legal challenge regarding the Judicial Appointments Commission’s use of Freedom of Information exemptions. A solicitor-judge argues that the body intentionally obscures its operations, specifically the scoring frameworks for selection exercises, to evade public scrutiny. He contends that the relied-upon exemptions were improperly invoked due to a lack of necessary ministerial authorization, raising serious concerns about procedural transparency and accountability within the judicial appointments process. This case is highly relevant to open_data because it tests the boundaries of statutory secrecy versus the public’s right to access information about how public bodies function. If the claim that exemptions were misused gains traction, it sets a precedent for demanding rigorous justification for withholding data. It underscores the importance of ensuring that data release practices are not only legally compliant but also genuinely supportive of democratic oversight, rather than serving as mechanisms to hide operational details. The ongoing tribunal proceedings illustrate the tension between protecting confidential candidate information and maintaining institutional transparency. The Judicial Appointments Commission maintains that its actions are lawful and intended to uphold the integrity of the selection regime, even admitting to early procedural errors. The outcome will clarify how strictly public authorities must adhere to open data principles when facing requests for details on their internal governance and decision-making criteria.
Source: lawgazette.co.ukPublished on 2023-04-22
Related news
- Feds Still Fighting Release of J6 Tapes Despite Mounting Legal Pressure A consortium of major media companies is suing the Justice Department and the FBI for ignoring Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain the still-secret recordings of January 6. By Julie Kelly
- Federal agency in charge of Haskell takes nearly a year to fulfill FOIA request — and redacts most of it
- NCP seeks ‘actual’ number of fatalities due to sunstroke through RTI
- Censo 2023: preocupación en organizaciones por el pedido de cédula de identidad y la “protección de datos personales”