Independence of judiciary may be ‘undermined’

DEFENDING the independence of the judiciary, the outgoing president of the High Court Mr Justice Richard Johnson warned yesterday of allowing this independence to be undermined as the public airwaves had apparently become the playground of lobbyists, canvassers, spin-doctors, touts and PR persons.

Speaking at a function to mark his last day on the bench, he noted that certain members of the executive and legislature were recently critical of the independence of the judiciary. He warned it would be a bad day for the country if the judiciary didn’t remain independent, irrespective of the resentment and jealously this produced.

Mr Justice Johnson said if we allow the independence of the judiciary to be undermined “we will have a situation where the judges will be subject to the same pressures as our TDs, councillors and planning officials are”.