Judicial Commission of NSW Annual Report 2017-18

Judicial Commission of NSW — Annual Report 2017–18 10 Overview of the Commission Performance results 2016–18 and targets 2017–19 Result Measure 2016–17 result Continuing judicial education Judicial officers informed about changes to the law, community values, court practice and procedure Maintain/increase number of publications 31 publications Maintain/increase number of specialised education events offered 44 education events Education events assisted judicial officers to reach the national standard* of 5 judicial education days each year 3.5 days offered** 2.2 days undertaken** Judicial skills, attitudes and knowledge enhanced Maintain/increase ratings that our services provide judicially relevant and stimulating education and information 82% of participants satisfied that events relevant and applicable and 78% satisfied that events enhanced knowledge and capability Judicial officers satisfied with their education Maintain/improve satisfaction rates from last year 91% overall satisfaction Judicial officers satisfied with skills based workshops Maintain/improve satisfaction rates from last year 91% overall satisfaction Providing legal information (includes research and sentencing) Judicial officers had access to current law to assist in decision making Maintain/increase use of Judicial Information Research System (JIRS) 134,476 average page hits each month Judicial officers promptly informed about changes to criminal law and criminal practice and procedure Maintain accuracy of legislation by weekly updates; update judgments on a daily basis; maintain bench books to reflect significant changes to the law; maintain email alert service • 238 recent law items posted on JIRS • 244 summaries of select appeal decisions published on JIRS • 3 updates to Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book Judicial officers promptly notified of changes in sentencing law and practice Maintain legal accuracy of sentencing principles and practices component of JIRS 4 updates to Sentencing Bench Book Sentencing principles in Sentencing Bench Book linked to new cases and legislation Accurate sentencing information available to judicial officers Maintain sentencing statistics on JIRS on the range and frequency of penalties imposed in similar cases Sentencing data received, audited and loaded on JIRS within 4 months of receipt Maintain information about sentences that other judicial officers have given in similar circumstances Published 53 summaries of significant appeal decisions in the Judicial Officers’ Bulletin Information about sentencing communicated Maintain/increase publication of sentencing trends, research papers and monographs 1 Sentencing Trends & Issues paper and 1 monograph published Provide information in response to requests for specific sentencing issues 1 research request from a judicial officer and responses to 11 non-judicial enquiries Judicial officers informed about sentencing options and rehabilitation facilities for offenders Maintain current information about service providers in services directory on JIRS Done JIRS improved to meet judicial officers’ needs Maintain/increase number of improvements to JIRS 10 Examining complaints Timely acknowledgment and completion of preliminary examination of complaints Maintain/decrease time taken to conduct preliminary examination of complaints Examined 94% of complaints within 6 months and 99% of complaints within 12 months Maintain time taken to formally acknowledge complaints received 100% of complaints received acknowledged within 5 working days High standard of judicial performance Compare number of complaints to number of court matters finalised during the year 364 judicial officers in NSW heard around 700,000 court matters in 2016–17 75 complaints about 57 judicial officers made Compare number of complaints dismissed under section 20 of the Judicial Officers Act 1986 with complaints that require further action 96% of complaints were summarily dismissed under section 20 of the Judicial Officers Act 1986 1 complaint referred to Conduct Division, 2 complaints referred to head of jurisdiction Maintain accessible information about complaints process Information about the complaints process and how to make a complaint was provided in the annual report, our website, and in brochure form Responded to 265 requests for information Independence of judicial officers maintained Complaints process demonstrates integrity of complaints function Commission examined all complaints according to statutory criteria and established protocols Information gathered from the complaints process used to develop education sessions for judicial officers Monitor and analyse trends in complaints to feed into education sessions 33% of complaints arose from allegations of failure to give a fair hearing 24% of complaints arose from allegations of an apprehension of bias * See Appendix 3 for explanation of national standard.