The Supreme Court said Monday it will accept the establishment of a panel that will advise the top court on appointing district and high court judges.

The Supreme Court made the announcement to the government's Judicial Reform Council, which wants the panel formed to ensure the objectivity and transparency of judicial appointments.

Under the Constitution, district and high court judges are to be appointed by the Cabinet from a list of people designated by the top court.

The council listened to various views on the appointment process and on personnel matters in the justice system at the meeting, which was also attended by the Justice Ministry and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

The Supreme Court proposed that the advisory panel consist of 10 members, including judges, prosecutors, lawyers, academics and people outside the judicial system.

It also backed the appointment of experienced lawyers with strong backgrounds in such specialized fields as intellectual property rights.

Admitting the current appointment system is flawed, the top court acknowledged that the lack of a third party has contributed to its failure to clarify matters related to judgeships.

However, it opposed a proposal by the bar association to set up similar panels in each of eight high courts across the nation, because judges are frequently transferred.

The Justice Ministry did not oppose the establishment of the advisory panel but said that the Constitution would limit its role.

The ministry also said that the panel's opinion should not limit the Supreme Court in its selection of possible judges.

The bar association, however, took a more progressive stance on the panel.

The bar proposed that more than half of the panel's members consist of regular citizens and that it be empowered to recommend candidates for judgeships, rather than just advise the court on appointments.

It also proposed requiring assistant judges, who are appointed immediately after finishing their studies at the Legal Training and Research Institute, to work as lawyers or prosecutors for five years to broaden their experience.

Under the current system, people who pass the National Bar Examination are trained together at the institute for two years before deciding whether to become lawyers, judges or public prosecutors.

In addition, the bar said it hopes the new system will allow for more variety of character in professional judges.

The state's 13-member reform council is led by Koji Sato, a Kyoto University professor and noted expert on the Constitution. It has been discussing judicial reform since its formation in July.