Is Sir Igor shoo-in for Lord Chief Justice?

The selection process to find a successor to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, a post currently held by Lord Phillips, has come under attack. And with good reason, it seems, for the man charged with co-ordinating the appointment, Lord Justice May, appears intent on shooing Sir Igor Judge (pictured) into the post, prompting allegations that the old boys' network is in operation.

In an email written to all senior judges, leaked to the Observer, May wrote: "So far as I am aware - but I could be wrong - there is only one declared candidate [Judge]. I shall personally support that candidate and I shall take silence as your support also. If (quixotically) any of you wish to be considered for the appointment, you should say so to Tom Bingham directly." Bingham is the senior law lord of England and Wales. May signs off: "I have been provided with a two-page written job specification for the office of Lord Chief Justice. If anyone really feels they need to see this, please ask."

No one doubts Oxford-educated Sir Igor could do the job - he is currently Britian's most senior criminal judge and is thought to be a humanitarian who feels prison sentences should be a last resort - but May's email has caused raised eyebrows among senior judges and politicians, including Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary. Said Huhne: "Lord Justice May seems to want to declare the result of the selection before nominations have closed, which is not usually the way we do things in this country."