The Council for the advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) has criticised the criteria used to select candidates for the position of National Director of Public Prosecution, saying the advisory panel tasked with selecting the next NDPP focused too much on legal practitioners handling high-profile cases, while discriminating against those in lower courts. Six candidates have now been shortlisted to move forward to the next stage of interviews. The list includes names such as Advocate Nicolette Astraid Bell, whose previous work includes her role as Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape and Chairperson of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime, Advocate Xolisile Jennifer Khanyile. The appointment of a new NDPP comes at a crucial time for the justice system, with high expectations for the office to ensure accountability within the country's prosecution services. For a look at how the recruitment process normally looks like and how it can be improved, Jon Gericke spoke to Research and Advocacy Officer at Judges Matter, Mbekezeli Benjamin