SA to get its first woman JP

Leeuw's candidacy was uncontested. The paper points out that while she is a senior judge with considerable experience, she also allowed Justice Minister Jeff Radebe to appoint former acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe as an acting judge in her division, an appointment the General Council of the Bar criticised. Leeuw was not asked about Mpshe in her interview last week. But the Constitution requires the Justice Minister only to consult the relevant Judge President, not that he or she is required to give permission. Some advocates in her province criticised Leeuw's candidacy heavily. This came up in her interview. The remarks by the advocates were not made public, but were, in any event, written off by some commissioners as 'vicious' and 'unwarranted'. The report notes gender representivity was a major preoccupation for the JSC during the interviews. Six of the seven women interviewed made the recommended list of 28 vacancies. The only woman to not get the post she interviewed for was Judge Lucy Mailula, who lost to Willem van der Merwe for deputy Judge President of Gauteng. Full Business Day report See also a report on the IoL site

Biggest surprise was the overlooking of Jeremy Gauntlett SC for a position on the Bench. The JSC owes the legal fraternity and the public an explanation on why Gauntlett has not been recommended for a position in the Western Cape High Court, former law professor Marinus Wiechers says in a report in Die Burger. 'As a former chairperson of the General Bar Council, Gauntlett is not only one of the country's top advocates, but also internationally renowned.' The three candidates recommended in that division are Chantel Fortuin, Patric Gamble SC and Elize Steyn SC. Constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos told the paper the JSC must at least provide reasons on why the other three candidates were chosen. Full report in Die Burger

The JSC says it sees no problem with President Jacob Zuma appointing the judge who acquitted him of rape to a top position in the judiciary. This was in reference to Judge Willem van der Merwe, according to a report on the IoL site. 'President Zuma is merely acting on the advice of the JSC... he is just at the end of a process,' said Ntsebeza. The President was not involved in the interviews, nor the nominations, which were conducted by secret ballot. According to Volksblad, Ntsebeza said Van der Merwe (67) has 25 years of experience on the Bench and has presided over several high-profile cases such as Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock's trial. Full Volksblad report Full report on the IoL site