COMPLAINT PROCESS

The Judicial Conduct Comissioner and Judicial Conduct Panel Act 2004 provides a way for people to complain about the conduct of a Judge and to have those complaints assessed. An independent Judicial Commissioner receives complaints, conducts preliminary investigations and decides what further actions, if any, are to be taken.

The Judicial Conduct Commissioner:

• Receives written complaints
• Conducts a preliminary examination of the complaint
• Takes one of the following steps:
  • Dismisses the complaint;
  • Refers the complaint to the Head of Bench; or
  • Recommends that the Attorney-General appoint a Judicial Conduct Panel to enquire into the matter.

You can read full detail of the Judicial Complaints Process and see a diagram of how it works.

• Overview
• Dismissing a Complaint
• Referring a Complaint
• Recommending a Panel

All of this information is also available in the booklet Complaints about Judicial Conduct. You can either download the booklet (PDF 63.4kb) or request a copy from judicialconduct@jcc.govt.nz or 0800 800 323.