The appointment, announced on Wednesday, is intended to examine the commission’s decision‑making processes and organisational governance and to recommend improvements.
The court judgment overturned the commission’s long‑standing determination that has barred the Orange Order from marching along the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown each July since 1998, a ruling that has been a flashpoint in Northern Ireland’s sectarian tensions.
Unionist politicians and the Orange Order have heavily criticised the commission in the wake of the judgment, accusing it of over‑reach and bias.
Bryant said the review must be “entirely independent, thoroughly credible, and led by a figure of high standing and proven expertise” to restore public confidence in how parade decisions are reached.
The review will assess the commission’s processes, consider procedural reforms and aim to provide assurance that future decisions are made transparently and fairly.
The Drumcree parade has been one of the most contentious parades in Northern Ireland for decades, and the commission’s role in adjudicating such events has repeatedly drawn scrutiny from both nationalist and unionist communities.