InBrief

Law reform and public affairs

A federal judicial commission would have the potential to enhance the administration of justice, according to the president of the Law Council of Australia, Morry Bailes.

Mr Bailes told The Australian newspaper that "Unjustified complaints may damage the reputation of judicial officers" and that "Complaints regarding serious misconduct should be properly scrutinized".

President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Arthur Moses SC, agreed, noting that the NSW Judicial Commission, established in 1987, had been very effective and that a similar model should operate at a federal level.

"A federal judicial commission would play a critical role in training and enhancing public confidence in the judiciary," Mr Moses SC said today.

"Complaints must be resolved in a way that is transparent and fair to both the community and to judges."

The Australian article titled "Lawyers want a watchdog to handle complaints against judges" can be viewed here [NB: paywall].