• complaints from applicants for judicial office about the way in which their application was handled;
• matters referred to us by the Lord Chancellor relating to the procedures of the Commission or a committee of the Commission; the matter may relate to such procedures generally or in a particular case.

Types of investigation

The Ombudsman might investigate complaints against the Commission (or any other party involved in handling of the initial complaint) alleging issues such as: 

• inaccurate or misleading information;
• prejudice against a complainant;
• failure to recognise the seriousness of a complaint;
• failure to respond in a reasonable timescale and
• not responding to a complaint in accordance with laid down procedures.

The Ombudsman will not investigate complaints from:

• anyone other than candidates for judicial office;
• candidates in relation to anything other than the competition for which they were a candidate and
• candidates who do not claim to have been adversely affected.

The Ombudsman may decline to take up a judicial appointment complaint if the complainant has not already complained to the Commission or Lord Chancellor, as appropriate.

The Ombudsman does not have to take up a complaint made more that twenty eight days after the complainant has been notified of the Commission or Lord Chancellor’s decision on the matter complained of, but may do so at any time if he considers it appropriate.