Advocate lays gross misconduct complaint against judge
A complaint of impeachable gross misconduct has been made against North Gauteng High Court Judge John Murphy by the chairman of the Johannesburg Bar Council, William Mokhari SC, after a war of words between the two senior jurists during the high-profile case involving suspended head of police Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli last week, says a Business Day report.
Mokhari told the judge one of his questions was presumptuous, to which Murphy replied: 'How dare you say that? I demand an answer.' When he told Mokhari to sit down, Mokhari refused, insisting on making his submissions and leading the judge to adjourn and storm out of court. The report says the exchange continued in the corridor, with both saying they would complain to the other's professional body and Murphy allegedly calling Mokhari an 'idiot'. JSC secretary Sello Chiloane confirmed the commission had received the complaint; it would be dealt with by the Judicial Conduct Committee. Mokhari is quoted as saying he had asked the committee to 'investigate' whether Murphy's conduct meant he was 'fit and proper to remain a judge'. He had referred to section 177 of the Constitution, which provides for impeachment of a judge for gross misconduct. Full Business Day report (subscription needed)