Vacant posts in the judiciary are being advertised for the first time in legal history.

The decision was taken recently by the Judicial Services Commission, of which Chief Justice Zaila McCalla is chairman.

The reason for the departure from convention is to get the most suitable and qualified Jamaican citizens for the posts.

There are now two vacant posts in the judiciary. One is for a judge of the Court of Appeal while the other is for a puisne judge.

Applicants have until August 30 to apply for the posts.

The advertisement states that the applicant must be a member of the Bar of Jamaica, England, Scotland or Northern Ireland and have at least 10 years' standing.

The applicant must subscribe to the court's commitment to a high standard of justice and the timely delivery of judgments.

The applicant must be widely read in law and possess the generally accepted attributes of a judge, such as integrity and impartiality.