The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman will not fall victim to the government’s ‘bonfire of the quangos’, the government has revealed.

Justice secretary Kenneth Clarke told parliament last week that the two agencies will remain in place ‘as valued independent bodies, which do much to bring openness to the way candidates are selected for judicial appointments’.

However, Clarke did criticise the length and cost of the judicial appointments process, saying he will work with the JAC on more detailed proposals for improvement.

The justice secretary’s decision follows a review of the operation of the judicial appointments process which began at the end of June.