Australian Government introduces bills for federal judicial complaints processes

14/03/2012

Commonwealth Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has introduced legislation to establish�federal parliamentary commissions to investigate serious allegations of misbehaviour or incapacity relating to a judicial officer, and�to support a decision to remove a judge under paragraph 72(ii) of the Constitution.�

The�Judicial Misbehaviour and Incapacity (Parliamentary Commissions) Bill 2012 provides a mechanism that would assist the parliament’s consideration of the removal of a judge from office.

The second bill, the Courts Legislation Amendment (Judicial Complaints) Bill 2012 gives a legislative basis for a largely non statutory framework to assist the chief justices of the Federal Court, the Family Court and the chief federal magistrate to manage complaints within their courts.

14 March 2012