THE Gauteng North High Court has dismissed Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe’s appeal against misconduct findings by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
Hlophe had filed a review application at the Johannesburg High Court, seeking to have the JSC’s gross misconduct findings against him set aside and that the matter goes back to the commission.
A full bench of the High Court rejected Hlophe’s argument that the National Assembly must conduct a probe into misconduct allegations against him.
This after the Judicial Conduct Tribunal found him guilty of gross misconduct for trying to influence the outcomes of former President Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial in 2008.
The Judicial Conduct Tribunal unanimously found that Hlophe improperly attempted to influence Justice Bess Nkabinde and Justice Chris Jafta to violate their oaths of office.
In its written judgment on Thursday‚ the court found that the evidence presented by Hlophe to halt his impeachment was unsubstantiated‚ irrational and unreasonable.
The court found that the JSC did not overstep its powers.
The court said no grounds had been shown to warrant a review of the decision‚ and that the application must be dismissed.
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