A JUDICIAL Conduct Tribunal has unanimously found Western Cape Judge President John Hlope guilty of gross misconduct following his attempts to sway two Constitutional Court Justices in siding with then President Jacob Zuma in 2008.
The complaint against Hlophe was lodged by 11 Constitutional Court judges more than twelve years ago after Nkabinde and Jafta reported that Hlophe had visited them separately in their chambers to discuss pending judgments in cases pertaining to the legality of search and seizures in the Zuma and Thint corruption matter.
The tribunal also found that Hlope’s conduct seriously threatened and interfered with the independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness of the Constitutional Court, effectively threatening public confidence in the judicial system.
The tribunal lambasted Hlophe for attacking fellow judges.
“We consider it our duty to vindicate the integrity of the justices of the Constitutional Court, in particular Chief Justice (Pius) Langa, Deputy Chief Justice (Dikgang) Moseneke, Judge Nkabinde and Judge Jafta whose integrity has been called into question by Judge President Hlophe’s unfounded and scurrilous attacks. They acted with honour to protect the institutional integrity of the apex court,” it said.
The tribunal has now submitted its report to the chair of the Judicial Service Commission.
- Staff Reporter
