Judicial complaints and the complaints procedure: Is it time for an independent judicial commission in Victoria?

Judicial misconduct - what it is, how it should be dealt with, and the importance of the independence of the judiciary - are perennial topics for legal commentators. Recent legal and political developments have seen greater scrutiny of judges both on and off the bench. How to scrutinise and discipline errant judges without compromising their independence or bringing the judiciary into disrepute is the subject of this article. The appropriateness and efficacy of an independent judicial body, tasked with the responsibility of judging the judges is analysed in the context of the delicate balance between independence and accountability.