Chief Justice: plans to keep judicial disciplinary hearings private ‘probably untenable’
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Mr Justice Franke Clarke
Proposals for disciplinary hearings against judges to be kept secret have been described as “probably untenable” by the Chief Justice.
The Government’s Judicial Council Bill would see inquiries take place for the first time to look at complaints against judges which fail to satisfy the level necessary for impeachment, the Irish Independent reports.
But the secrecy provision, which would also make it an offence to publish or disclose evidence from the hearings, has proved controversial.
The Chief Justice, Mr Justice Clarke, said: “My own view is the legislation providing for a complete ban on any publicity about anything is probably untenable, to be honest.”
He said there was space for debate on the point at which evidence should become public and noted that the judiciary differs from other professions because its members make adverse decisions against people.
He warned that to publicise the mere fact of a complaint would be “very dangerous” since it could be vexatious or frivolous.
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