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Overhaul of judicial complaints process
The way in which judicial complaints are handled will be altered in order to promote greater transparency and accountability, the Federal Attorney-General has said.Attorney-General Robert…
Lawyers Weekly
The way in which judicial complaints are handled will be altered in order to promote greater transparency and accountability, the Federal Attorney-General has said.
"A key feature of the new process is the ability for heads of jurisdiction to establish a Conduct Committee to investigate a complaint and provide a report on the issue," McClelland said.
"Judicial independence and impartiality are vital to the smooth administration of justice. A transparent, impartial and accountable system of judicial complaints handling will strengthen public confidence in the federal judiciary."
The government also announced its plans to re-introduce the Parliamentary (Judicial Misbehaviour or Incapacity) Commission Bill into parliament.
"Parliamentary consideration of removal of a judge from office will only be triggered in the rarest of circumstances," McClelland said.
"However, it is important that a clear framework is in place if such an extraordinary circumstance were to arise."
The new mechanism for judicial complaints handling will not apply to the High Court.
