Bill will ‘promote and maintain’ judicial standards

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has published a bill to establish a Judicial Conduct Committee and a Judicial Studies Committee.

Ms Fitzgerald said the Judicial Council Bill would “promote and maintain excellence functions and high standards of conduct among judges”.

She explained: “A Judicial Conduct Committee will be established which will consider complaints against judges and refer them either for informal resolution or for formal investigation.

“The Committee will also prepare draft guidelines concerning judicial conduct and ethics for adoption by the Council.

“Short of invoking Article 35.4 of the Constitution, which relates to the process whereby a judge may be removed from office, commonly referred to as ‘impeachment’, there is no mechanism available which allows for the investigation of complaints of a less serious nature. This Bill will provide that mechanism.”

Ms Fitzgerald added: “The Bill will also provide for the establishment of a Judicial Studies Committee to facilitate the continuing education and training of judges with regard to their judicial functions.

“A Sentencing Information Committee will also be established to collate information on sentences imposed by the courts, and to disseminate information from time to time to judges and persons other than judges.”