Disciplinary body needed for judges, says DPP

JUDGES need a disciplinary body to reprimand members of the bench who misbehave, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has said.

DPP James Hamilton said the body could be largely made up of and run by judges themselves but it should have some outside members as well.

Such a “judicial council” has been promised by the Government for years and legislation setting out its functions is at draft stage but in its absence, the only sanction that can be imposed on a judge is removal from office — a process that requires the formal approval of both the Dáil and the Seanad.