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Judges Chairing Public Inquiries: Observations on DCA “Effective Inquiries”

1. In the wake of the Hutton and Butler Inquires there has been a certain amount of debate1 about the use of judges to chair public inquiries into matters of high political controversy. Whether or not prompted by the controversy over these recent inquiries, the Department of Constitutional Affairs’ Consultation Paper on “Effective Inquiries”2 provides a timely opportunity for reflection on this and other issues relating to the holding of such public inquiries. The present article is focused on the issue of judges’ involvement in inquiries but will make suggestions, although some of the suggestions made for reform may have wider implications.