Retired judges resist declaration of interests plan

It notes that, addressing an ad hoc committee of Parliament on behalf of retired judges yesterday, former Cape Town High Court Judge President Gerald Friedman tore into Justice Minister Jeff Radebe's draft code of conduct for judges, describing it as 'naive in the extreme' and 'unnecessary'. But ANC MPs shot back, asking why the judges - who earn a salary even after retirement - had a problem declaring their finances and business interests if they 'are so squeaky clean'. MPs have been aware since January that more than 200 sitting and retired judges are against the plan. Friedman, flanked by retired SCA Judge Peet Nienaber, said former members of the Bench had a huge respect for the judiciary. He said it was not 'necessary' to compel retired judicial officers to declare how much they were earning from private jobs. 'As retired judges, we respect the institution of the judiciary to the extent that we would never do anything that might bring it into disrepute,' said Friedman. He also slammed the code of conduct for requiring judges to seek Radebe's permission to engage in remunerated work. 'Why is it necessary for us to be obliged to advise the register of registrable interest how much we have been paid and by whom? The type of work that retired judges are doing is work of a confidential nature,' he said. Full report in The Times