Judicial Commissions and Committees

Justices of the Peace Review Council

The Justices of the Peace Review Council is established under the Justices of the Peace Act (s.9). All complaints regarding Justices of the Peace must be made to the Chief Judge of the Territorial Court. The Chief Judge may take a number of actions including referring the complaint to the Council.

Once a complaint is received by the Council, the Council will inquire into the complaint by holding a hearing. The Council has all the powers of a Board of Inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act and must issue a report to the Commissioner in Executive Council and the Chief Judge in which it can recommend a range of outcomes from dismissal of the complaint to revocation of the appointment of the Justice of the Peace.

Hearings notices and reports of the Justices of the Peace Review Council will be posted on this page.

Current membership of the Justices of the Peace Review Council can be found here.

Judicial Council for Territorial Judges

The Judicial Council for Territorial Judges is established under the Territorial Court Act (s.31) for the purpose of hearing legitimate complaints against judges of the Territorial Court.

Complaints regarding judges of the Territorial Court may be received by any member of the Council. Once a complaint is received, the Council may conduct an investigation, refer the matter to the Chief Judge of the Territorial Court, refer the matter for mediation, conduct a hearing or dismiss the complaint. Following a hearing, the Council may impose a disposition ranging from a warning to suspension, or make a recommendation to the Commissioner in Executive Council for removal of the judge from office.

If the Council determines that a hearing is required, the Council has all the powers of a Board of Inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act and may issue a report to the Commissioner in Executive Council. The Commissioner in Executive Council may make the report public if it considers that it would be in the public interest to do so.

Hearings notices and reports of the Judicial Council for Territorial Judges will be posted here.

Current membership of the Judicial Council for Territorial Judges can be found here.

Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee is established under the Territorial Court Act (s.5.3) for the purpose of making recommendations to the Commissioner in Executive Council for the appointment of judges and deputy judges of the Territorial Court.

When a judicial vacancy occurs, the Minister of Justice may ask the Committee to make a recommendation. The Committee is responsible to advertise the vacancy, review and assess all applications, and provide a ranked list of candidates to the Commissioner in Executive Council. The Commissioner in Executive Council may only appoint a candidate who was recommended by the Committee.

The Committee also considers applications for appointment as Deputy Judge of the Territorial Court.

Current membership of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee can be found here.

Judicial Remuneration Commission

The Judicial Remuneration Commission is an independent Commission that conducts inquiries with respect to the salaries, pension, leave and other benefits provided to Judges of the Territorial Court. The Commission sits every four years and produces a public report. Recommendations of the Commission have the same force and effect as if passed by the Legislative Assembly.

Current membership of the Judicial Remuneration Commission can be found here.