The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB) has invited applications from practising solicitors and barristers to fill judicial vacancies across the courts.

The notice is for those who are eligible for appointment as ordinary judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court, and District Court.

Those who wish to be considered can apply in writing to the Secretary, Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, Phoenix House, 15/24 Phoenix Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7, for a copy of the relevant application form.

The JAAB says that fully completed application forms will be considered for vacancies that may arise in the relevant courts in 2023, except for those vacancies that will arise in early 2023 where nominations may have been made in 2022.

For administrative purposes, applications should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 27 January 2023, but the JAAB adds that eligible applicants can submit applications for judicial vacancies at any time during the year.

Tax-clearance certificate

It also points out that the Standards in Public Office Act 2001, as amended, prohibits the board from recommending a person for judicial office unless that person has a relevant tax-clearance certificate issued not more than 18 months before the date of a recommendation.

“These applications will only remain valid pending enactment of any new legislation in relation to judicial appointments,” the JAAB says.

The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022, which is currently before the Oireachtas, allows for the establishment of a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) of nine members, chaired by the chief justice, to replace JAAB.