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New investigations into complaints about judges

Victoria has cautiously backed an inquiry into complaints about judges and magistrates following concerns about a magistrate's speeding irregularities.

user iconKate Gibbs 14 July 2009 The Bar
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Victoria has cautiously backed an inquiry into complaints about judges and magistrates following concerns about a magistrate's speeding irregularities.

The peak Victorian legal representative body has cautiously backed an inquiry into complaints about judges and magistrates following concerns about a magistrate's speeding irregularities. 

Law Institute of Victoria president Danny Barlow said calls for a commission to examine complaints would be worth investigating. 

 
 

"It is important to ensure that judges and magistrates are subject to the same type of complaint mechanisms as others," Barlow said. 

“The public must have confidence that the judiciary are also following the rules.”

Barlow said courts should handle complaints according to generally accepted standards in the community.

“We need a modern system of inquiry, not the outdated tell-a-supervisor model.

“The second issue is that only Parliament can dismiss a magistrate.”

Victoria's Chief Magistrate Ian Gray's call for the commission comes after investigations into an alleged irregularity relating to a speeding ticket received by Victorian magistrate Carmen Randazzo, whose father is Antonio Randazzo, a senator in the Italian Parliament. 

Carmen Randazzo resigned last month after the investigation, but it is understood police do not intend to charge her with any offence relating to the matter. 

The Age newspaper reported in May that the junior Randazzo was booked for speeding nine times in February and March last year. Several of those were made in her Department of Justice-issued car.

The same newspaper reported that she told the Department of Justice that Antonio Randdazzo was driving her car at the time the fines were incurred. But an officer in the department was believed to have queried the explanation, suggesting that he was overseas at the time. 

When told of the speeding fine issue, Antonio Randazzo said: "I know nothing about it." 


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