Appointment of Commissioners of the Criminal Cases Review Commission

Zahra Ahmed, Nicola Cockburn and Joanne Fazakerley have been appointed as Commissioners of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for 3 years from 1 June 2021.

The CCRC is an independent body, set up by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, to investigate possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The CCRC decides if there is any new evidence or new argument which raises a real possibility that an appeal court would quash a conviction or reduce a sentence.

Appointments to the CCRC are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biographies

Zahra Ahmed

Zahra Ahmed is a practising barrister with specialist experience in regulatory, public law, immigration, and crime.

Zahra has a practice in the regulation of health care professionals. She provides legal advice and recommendations on the disposal of cases, in order to assist regulators in discharging the duty to protect the public. Zahra presents cases before professional disciplinary panels and she has previously worked as an in house lawyer at the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Zahra has been instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service, the Serious Fraud Office and as Junior Counsel to the Undercover Policing Inquiry

Nicola Cockburn

Nicola Cockburn is Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

Joanne Fazakerley

Joanne Fazakerley is a solicitor and is currently a consultant at Paul Crowley & Co Solicitors. Previously, Joanne was a solicitor at Hogan’s Solicitors.