Lords Constitution Committee to hear from Ken Clarke and Lord McNally on appointing Judges

The Committee will ask the witnesses about how the diversity of the judiciary can be increased and for an assessment of the process for appointing Supreme Court Justices.

The witnesses will also be quizzed on the role the Lord Chancellor currently plays in judicial appointments and why the Government propose giving the final say on the majority of appointments to the Lord Chief Justice instead of the Lord Chancellor.

The evidence session will take place at 10:15am on Wednesday 18 January in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.

Notes to Editors

1. Journalists and members of the public are welcome to attend public evidence sessions for this inquiry. A schedule of meetings will be available on the website, where you can also follow the inquiry's progress. Please contact the Lords Press Office or subscribe to email alerts and newsfeeds if you would like to be kept informed.

2. The inquiry is into the judicial appointments process for the UK's new Supreme Court as well as for the courts and tribunals of England and Wales.

3. The House of Lords Constitution Committee investigates constitutional issues. It is one of the five permanent investigative committees in the House of Lords. The Committee's Members include a former Lord Chancellor, a former Attorney General and a leading human rights lawyer. For more information about the Committee, see its website.

4. This week's evidence is final one in the inquiry into the Judicial Appointments Process. The Committee are expected to publish their report in February