[DOWNLOAD] "Reform of the Judicial Appointments Process: Gender and the Bench of the High Court of Australia." by Melbourne University Law Review " eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Reform of the Judicial Appointments Process: Gender and the Bench of the High Court of Australia.
- Author : Melbourne University Law Review
- Release Date : January 01, 2003
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 396 KB
Description
[The judges of the High Court of Australia are appointed by the federal executive on the basis of 'merit' after an informal and secret consultation process. This system is anachronistic when compared with the judicial appointments procedures and ongoing reforms in other common law jurisdictions, and when considered against the minimum level of scrutiny and accountability now expected of senior appointments to other public institutions. It is also inconsistent with the role of the High Court in determining the law, including matters of public policy, for the nation as a whole. One consequence of the current system, including its reliance on the subjective concept of "merit" is that, of the 44 appointments to the Court, only one has been a woman. The appointments process should be reformed to provide for the selection of High Court judges by the executive based upon known criteria after the preparation of a short list by a judicial appointments commission. Without this, the current executive appointments system threatens to undermine public confidence in the Court and the administration of justice.] I INTRODUCTION