The JSC is due to look into allegations of misconduct leveled against the Judge President of the Cape, John Hlophe, by the judges of the Constitutional Court, today, Wednesday 1 April, at The Hilton in Sandton, Johannesburg.
Willis dismissed the commission's argument that opening the hearings could harm the dignity of the office of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and judge president, saying the issues surrounding Hlophe were of intense public interest, and suggested that conducting the hearings in secret would likely do more damage to confidence in the judiciary than an open process.
Submissions by the media arguing that principles of open justice required that the hearings be public were "impressive" he added.
Commented M&G associate deputy editor Nic Dawes, "We are really delighted. The Hlophe saga raises issues that go to heart of our democratic order -- the independence of the judiciary and the standards by which judges are held to account for their conduct.
"We believe that carrying out this process in secret would have served only to undermine its credibility and we are very pleased the court agreed. It is another important precedent in the creation of a common law that embodies constitutional principles of open democracy and free speech".
