MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, October 26 2010
LAWYERS BACK COURTS COMPLAINTS METHOD
Victoria’s courts and their methods for handling complaints about their judges have the
full support of the state’s lawyers.
The Law Institute of Victoria and the Victorian Bar stand behind the state’s courts,
which were criticized over their system for complaints about their judges in today’s
media which drew on dated material.
“We have confidence in the courts and we do not believe there are problems with the
judiciary that are not being dealt with,” says LIV President Steven Stevens.
However, the LIV and the Victorian Bar support the anticipated Judicial Commission
which will overhaul the way judicial complaints are handled. With a 10-member board,
made up of court heads and community members, it will investigate and hear
complaints and concerns about judicial officers.
“The courts, the Victorian Bar, the LIV and the government have been working on a
new model for independently dealing with complaints about the judiciary for some time.
The Judicial Commission Bill put before Parliament has stalled and we urge the new
State Government to pass the Bill in the next session,” says Mr Stevens.
Vice-Chairman of the Victorian Bar, Mark Moshinsky, S.C.agrees: “The Victorian Bar
supports the proposed Judicial Commission and looks forward to it being finalized
through the legislative process.
“The Victorian judiciary has actively promoted the reform and it has been developed in
full consultation with the profession, including the Bar. The result is a process which
deals with complaints with the seriousness and fairness they deserve and meets
community expectations about how complaints against judicial officers should be dealt
with,” Mr Moshinsky says.
“We believe the proposed new complaints body, which was initiated by the judiciary
itself and has been publicly supported by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
Marilyn Warren, will be effective in dealing with any future issues that arise,” says Mr
Stevens.
Media Inquiries: Kerry O’Shea, LIV Public Affairs 03 9607 9373 / 0401 107 103
Alicia Patterson, Victorian Bar Media 03 9903 6488 / 0403 172 024
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