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Foreword by the Hon Robert French AC, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
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v
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Preface
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xiii
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Acknowledgments
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xvii
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Table of Cases
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xix
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Table of Statutes
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xxix
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Chapter 1: Introduction
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1
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The importance of the judiciary
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1
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The development of an independent judiciary
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3
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The rule of law
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4
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Meaning of judicial independence
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5
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International standards and judicial independence
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7
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A declaration of judicial independence
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9
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Guarantees of judicial independence
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10
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The judiciary in Australia
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11
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Concluding observations
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14
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Chapter 2: The courts and judges
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20
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The Australian court system
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20
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The work of judges
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24
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Who is a judge?
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27
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Who are the judges?
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35
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Chapter 3: The judiciary as a branch of government
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49
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Introduction
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49
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The separation of powers doctrine
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50
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Meaning of judicial power
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53
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Parliament and the judicial process
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56
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The persona designata doctrine
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57
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The Kable doctrine and State courts
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61
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Relationships with other branches of government
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65
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Conclusion
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75
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Chapter 4: Appointment and conditions of service
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84
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Appointments
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84
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Current appointment process
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85
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Some controversial appointment episodes
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86
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Qualifications for appointment
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89
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Proposals for change
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92
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Acting and part-time judges
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94
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Conditions of service
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98
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Judicial education
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100
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Disputes about entitlement to hold and exercise judicial office
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101
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Conclusion
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107
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Chapter 5: Removal, suspension and discipline of judges
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116
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Removal of judges
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116
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The Lionel Murphy affair
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117
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The Vasta affair
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120
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‘Judicial misbehaviour’
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122
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‘Incapacity’ – the Bruce affair
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124
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Suspension of judges from office
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126
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Judicial review of proceedings against judges
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129
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Abolition of courts
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131
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Reforming the removal mechanism
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134
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Complaints against judges
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135
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Resignation of judges
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143
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Chapter 6: Judicial conduct
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152
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Introduction
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152
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The rule against bias
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153
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Questions for the future
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170
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Public interest and private interest
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174
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Guide to judicial conduct
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177
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Chapter 7: Extra-judicial activities of judges
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186
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Non-judicial functions
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186
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Commissions and committees of inquiry
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189
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Restrictions on judges’ extra-judicial activities
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192
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Declarations of inconsistent interpretation
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201
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The Guide to Judicial Conduct
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202
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Conclusion
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202
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Chapter 8: Protecting judicial institutions
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207
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Contempt of court
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208
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Offences relating to the administration of justice
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210
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Protection of judges from legal liability
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216
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Parliamentary conventions relating to the judiciary
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231
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Removal of jurisdiction
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232
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Chapter 9: The accountability of judges
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249
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The concept of accountability
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249
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Open hearings
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251
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Reasons for judgment
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258
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Appeals and review
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265
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The judiciary and Parliament
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271
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Judges as witnesses before Parliament
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277
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The courts and the media
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278
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Chapter 10: A public trust
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308
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Appendix 1: Judicial statistics tables
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317
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Appendix 2: Guide to Judicial Conduct
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320
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Index
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365
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