• Introduction
  • About us
  • What we do
  • How we serve
  • Core values
  • Our vision
  • Our history
  • Our people
  • Annual reports
  • Employment opportunities
Judicial commission foyer

About the Judicial Commission

Understand more about the Commission’s principal functions.

Supreme Court of NSW

About the Judicial Commission

Enhancing public confidence in the State’s judicial officers

We are an independent statutory corporation. The Commission’s work is designed to enhance public confidence in the judiciary by promoting the highest standards of judicial behaviour and decision-making. We:

  • provide a continuing education and training program for NSW judicial officers
  • publish information about the criminal law and sentencing to assist the courts to achieve consistency in imposing sentences and more generally in the conduct of criminal proceedings
  • examine complaints about judicial officers’ ability or behaviour.

The Judicial Commission was established in 1986 by the Judicial Officers Act 1986.

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We are leaders in judicial education and sentencing research and share our knowledge and experience with the global network of judiciaries and judicial education providers.

Who we serve

We serve our diverse community including

  • Public
  • Judicial officers
  • Legal professionals
  • Government
  • Community organisations
  • Students
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How we serve the public

We provide the general public with information and resources about the justice system and judicial process, including guidance on lodging complaints.


We aim to inform people and our work is designed to enhance public confidence in the judiciary by promoting the highest standards of judicial behaviour and decision-making.

Can the Judicial Commission deal with my complaint?

Learn about the type of complaints the Commission can deal with and the process for lodging a complaint against a judicial officer, such as a judge or magistrate.

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How we serve judicial officers

We provide legal information and resources to assist the courts to achieve consistency in imposing sentences and more generally conduct criminal and civil proceedings. Judicial officers have access to the Judicial Information Research System (JIRS), Lawcodes, bench books and other publications as well as a continuing judicial education program.

Programs for judicial officers

The Commission promotes high standards of judicial performance and assists in the development of appropriate judicial skills and practice.

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How we serve the legal profession

We provide the legal profession with information and resources including our Judicial Information Research System (JIRS) (on a paid subscription basis), Lawcodes and bench books.

Subscribe to JIRS

JIRS is available to the broader legal profession, libraries and educational institutions on a paid subscription basis.

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How we serve the government

We provide government agencies with access to our resources including the Judicial Information Research System (JIRS), Lawcodes and bench books.

Access the Lawcodes database

Find associated text of legislation, a short and long description, penalties and more.

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How we serve our community

We present and share information to inform community groups about our role in the justice system and engage with the community through collaborations with other organisations.

Programs for communities

The Commission presents and shares information to inform the public and community groups about our role in the justice system and engages with our community engagement role through collaborations with other organisations.

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How we serve students

We provide students with legal information and resources, including bench books, about all aspects of the judicial and court processes.

Access to bench books and handbooks

Most of our publications can be downloaded free from our website.

Our values

Empowered by 4 core values

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Connecting

We value our partners and work cooperatively with them.

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Enhancement

We continually improve the way we do business.

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Professionalism

We are recognised for our integrity, our independence, and the high quality services we deliver.

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Sustainability

We consider the way our operations, products and services impact on people, the environment and the economy.

Our vision

The people of NSW will have confidence in the exceptional ability and performance of judicial officers.

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About us

Our history

The Judicial Commission was established in 1986 in response to calls for a formal mechanism to review sentences and sentencing practice, and to give effect to judicial accountability.

    About us

    Our people

    The Judicial Commission has 10 members headed by the Chief Justice of NSW who is the President. The six official members are the heads of the State’s five courts as well as the President of the Court of Appeal. Of the four appointed members, the Governor of NSW appoints three people who, in the Attorney General’s opinion, have high standing in the community. The fourth is a legal practitioner appointed following consultations between the Attorney General and the Presidents of the Law Society of NSW and Bar Association of NSW.

      Annual reports

      The annual report is designed for judicial officers, our partners, staff, and the community to provide easy-to-read information about how the Commission performed during the financial year.

      Looking for employment opportunities at the Judicial Commission of NSW?

      There are currently no employment opportunities available. Please check back here at a later date.