Fee-paid judicial pensions: update and consultation
Update on the progress of the pension scheme for eligible fee-paid judges, and open consultation on scheme design.
In light of the O’Brien and Miller judgments in respect of fee-paid pension entitlement, the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) will implement a Fee-paid Judicial Pension Scheme (FPJPS) for fee-paid service from 7 April 2000 to 31 March 2015 for eligible fee-paid judicial office holders.
The pension scheme for fee-paid judicial office holders will mirror the current Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (JUPRA) scheme for salaried judges, as far as is possible. MOJ is consulting on the proposed design of this scheme. MOJ welcomes comments from all those likely to be affected by the establishment of this scheme.
To provide this scheme, MOJ has sponsored an amendment to the Pension Schemes Bill 2014 to 2015. This will amend existing legislation on judicial pensions to provide the Lord Chancellor with a power to establish and maintain a pension scheme for eligible fee-paid judicial office holders in the UK.
The FPJPS will be brought into effect by regulations laid under JUPRA in the next Parliamentary session. The FPJPS is set to open during the financial year 2015 to 2016.