AG: Judges not above the law

ATTORNEY GENERAL John Jeremie declared that Supreme Court judges and magistrates are not above the law, and appealed to the Opposition to help Government to amend existing legislation in order make the nation’s judicial officers more accountable to the population. Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday, Jeremie said the Integrity Commission has expressed uncertainty to him about its powers and authority in respect of disclosure requirements under the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000, where judicial officers were concerned. Jeremie said he has since advised Cabinet that the Act contained provisions which were in fact unconstitutional (where judicial office are concerned) and the Constitution only intended that the Judicial and Legal Service Commission “would have oversight over judicial officers.”

The AG added that it would be irresponsible of Government “to ignore fundamental constitutional principles and to allow the law to stand as it is currently drafted.” Jeremie then indicated, “This is not to say that Cabinet is in any way endorsing the position that judicial officers are a law unto themselves, or that they should not be subjected to the most rigorous scrutiny in respect of which all other significant public office holders and politicians are held. The Executive proposes now to move quickly to repeal the offending provisions of the legislation and of the Constitution.” The AG said Government will be asking the Opposition for its support “in the near future to pass appropriate amending legislation which represents the spirit of the original proposal, but allows the JLSC powers to better enforce appropriate reporting requirements for judicial officers.”