Applications open in October following Sir Colin Birss’s move to Master of the Rolls
The JAC judicial appointment process for the next President of the Business and Property Division will open in October 2026, following a request from the Lord Chancellor to convene a selection panel.
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) announced that the exercise will identify a successor to Sir Colin Birss, who is due to move to the role of Master of the Rolls in October 2026. The position was formerly known as the Chancellor of the High Court.
Applications will open on 12 October 2026 and close on 26 October 2026. Prospective candidates have been invited to contact Lisa Grant, the JAC’s Head of Senior Appointments, for information about the eligibility and selection criteria and the documentation required.
The JAC said candidates are expected to demonstrate outstanding ability and, except in exceptional circumstances, sufficient directly relevant previous judicial experience. It defines directly relevant experience for the exercise as sitting as a judge in a higher court.
Candidates will also be required to submit judgments as part of their applications. Those interested in applying can request an information pack by contacting the JAC’s Head of Senior Appointments at the email address provided in the announcement.
The appointment exercise comes as part of a series of senior judicial selection processes being conducted by the JAC. Its role is to recommend individuals for judicial office in England and Wales, with appointments based on merit.
The JAC said enquiries about the Business and Property Division role will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. It has also published a notice of intent to apply for prospective candidates.
For solicitors and other legal professionals considering the role, the immediate development is the opening of the application process on 12 October. The published criteria indicate that relevant judicial experience and the submission of judgments will form part of the selection process.