Chris Oxtoby is an independent legal consultant and a research consultant for Freedom Under Law. He is currently working on issues of judicial appointments and conduct, and the rule of law. He was previously a senior academic researcher and has worked on projects including the development of the regional best practice standards for the selection and appointment of judges, and monitoring the work of the South African Judicial Service Commission. He holds a BScoSc and an LLB (cum laude) from the University of Cape Town, and an LLM from New York University. He is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa (non-practising roll).