JSC amends questionnaire for new judges following Judges Matter’s recommendations

A win for Judges Matter!

The Judicial Service Commission has amended its questionnaire for new judges aligning closely with the recommendations Judges Matter and the DGRU have made in submissions to the JSC in November 2022, October 2023 and April 2024.

Key Amendments: Enhancing integrity in judicial appointments

The revised questionnaire now includes crucial questions aimed at bolstering integrity and adding a layer of due diligence in the judicial appointment process. The new questions specifically ask if the candidate has:

• Been convicted of an offence of involving violence, dishonesty or disreputable conduct.
• Been found guilty of misconduct by any legal professional body.
• A civil judgment, maintenance order, or related question.

Next Steps and implementation

The new questionnaire is attached to the JSC’s most recent call for nominations, with the closing date of 14 June 2024. The first candidates to be evaluated using the new questionnaire will be those applying for one of the 17 high court vacancies, to be interviewed in the JSC’s October 2024 session.

Why this is important

These are questions that are often asked in the appointment process for magistrates, and it was an anomaly that they are not asked of candidates for higher judicial office.

This goes a long way in making the process of judicial appointment more rigorous.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JSC QUESTIONNAIRE FOR NEW JUDGES.

Judges Matter believes that independent, well-resourced judiciaries are the bedrock of the rule of law, fostering well-functioning societies and spurring economic growth. This is why our mission is to bring transparency to South Africa’s judiciary. Through research, advocacy and monitoring, Judges Matter shines a light on crucial issues of judicial appointments, judicial conduct, and judicial governance.

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