Concern raised over judges Bill

Both Bills are part of four controversial measures first mooted by the Justice Department in 2005 for the transformation of the judiciary. DA Justice spokesperson Sheila Camerer predicted that a row was brewing over the way in which the JSC Amendment Bill was being processed in Parliament. Camerer said a statement issued by Justice Committee chairperson Fatima Chohan inviting submissions for the Judicial Service Commission Amendment Bill emerged only a few days before the February 20 deadline. ‘Judges are outraged that they read about the Bill in the media only two or three days before the deadline.’ Prominent judges, who have already made and wish to make submissions, indicated to the DA that the amendments envisaged in the Bill are far reaching and some of them raise constitutional issues. Full Business Day report Judicial Service Commission Amendment Bill