Annual Report 2016-17

Judicial Commission of NSW – Annual Report 2016–17 4 Our history Our controversial begining The government’s announcement in September 1986 that it intended to establish a judicial commission was highly controversial, generating heated exchanges in Parliament and between the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sir Laurence Street (photo left), and the Attorney General at the time, the Honourable Terry Sheahan, now the Honourable Justice Sheahan AO. Members of the judiciary and the legal profession, watching from the sidelines, opposed the plan or wondered whether it could work. More than thirty years on, the Commission remains a unique organisation in Australia, combining complaints and education functions. The Long Title to the Judicial Officers Act 1986, No 100 of 1986 An Act relating to the tenure of judicial office; to constitute a Judicial Commission of New South Wales; to confer on the Commission functions relating to sentencing consistency, judicial education and certain other matters; to provide for the examination of complaints against Judges and other judicial officers; to provide for their suspension, removal and retirement in certain circumstances; and for other purposes. 1985 • Controversies involving judicial officers in Australia are widely reported in the media. 1986 • The NSW Government announced plans to establish a Judicial Commission responding to a perceived crisis in public confidence in the judiciary. The Judicial Officers Act 1986 commenced in December 1986. The Commission uniquely combined a complaints function with educational and sentencing functions. 1987 • The Judicial Officers (Amendment) Act 1987 changed the Commission to a statutory authority, allowing it to be independent of the executive Government. Operations commenced in October. • Of the 220 judicial officers in NSW: 95% are men; 5% are women. 1988 • Conference, seminar and publications programs commenced to provide professional continuing judicial education. • Development of Sentencing Information System database commenced to help judicial officers improve consistency in their approach to sentencing.

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