UK commissions SSRB review of judicial pay by 2026

Judges’ pay might feel distant from everyday life, but it shapes who sits in courtrooms and how well the system runs. In May 2025, the UK Government asked the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) to carry out a Major Review of the judicial salary structure. The SSRB accepted the commission on 15 May and confirmed work was under way.

First, what is the SSRB? It’s an independent body that advises ministers on pay for senior public roles, including the judiciary. For this project, the SSRB aims to submit advice to the Lord Chancellor by November 2026. The May letters name Lea Paterson CBE as SSRB Chair and Mark Emerton as Chair of the SSRB’s Judicial Sub‑Committee, who is leading the review. Note that since 5 September 2025, David Lammy MP has been the Lord Chancellor.

So what will be examined? According to the official Terms of Reference, the review focuses on practical problems: persistent recruitment shortfalls in certain courts and regions; whether the London Weighting still works; and a menu of flexible pay options to respond to pressure points. It will also look at the attractiveness of salaried and fee‑paid roles, and whether leadership responsibilities are rewarded well enough to keep the system running smoothly.

There are guardrails. The review is expected to use existing salary bands where possible and aim for a structure that is simpler to understand and easier to manage across different courts and tribunals. Pension reforms and big changes to judges’ terms and conditions sit outside this review, although the SSRB may note where those issues interact with pay.

Who is covered? Annex A shows a long list: from the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal to High Court judges, Circuit and District Judges, tribunal judges and specified devolved posts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Fee‑paid roles with a salaried comparator are in scope too. The aim is a joined‑up picture across the UK’s courts and tribunals.

How will decisions be made? The SSRB’s main board will agree the final recommendations, while its Judicial Sub‑Committee gathers evidence and may commission research. An Advisory and Evidence Group-bringing in the Ministry of Justice, the Lady Chief Justice, the Senior President of Tribunals and devolved representatives-will help ensure the data is robust.

You can follow-and even inform-the process. On 17 November 2025, the SSRB launched a public Call for Evidence, open to organisations, judges and non‑judges. It closes at 5pm on 30 January 2026. Judges are encouraged to respond individually as well as through their associations. If you teach law or politics, this is a live example of evidence‑based policymaking.

Money matters here. The Terms of Reference note pay awards of 7% and 6% in the last two rounds and estimate overall judicial remuneration at £778 million for 2024/25. While the SSRB’s advice is independent, ministers decide what to accept-and the Lord Chancellor holds responsibility for judicial pay policy.

What should you watch for next? Interim advice continues through the annual pay rounds while the Major Review runs, with final recommendations due by November 2026. The big civic question this review tries to answer is straightforward: how do we recruit and keep high‑quality judges in every part of the country, while spending public money wisely?

For context, the last major review reported in 2018. This time, officials say the scope is more targeted-zeroing in on recruitment, role attractiveness and leadership. Reading the official pages on GOV.UK is a good media‑literacy habit: you can see the evidence requests, letters and timelines for yourself, not just the headlines.