The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) will only meet in a month’s time to decide whether there is a prima facie case against Cape Judge President John Hlophe.
The JSC met for over two hours on Friday to discuss a complaint by Constitutional Court judges, who have accused Hlophe of trying to improperly influence the court’s decision regarding Scorpion search raids on African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma.
But the meeting, chaired by President of the Supreme Court of Appeal Craig Howie, only discussed procedural matters.
”The commission’s meeting today [Friday] was convened to consider written communication from the complainant judges conveying the facts underlying the complaint. The judges concerned have been unable to meet on this date,” the commission said in a written media statement, refusing to answer any questions on the issue.
Judges of the Constitutional Court have now been given until June 13 to hand in written statements and to ”provide the facts” in those statements.
Once those statements are received, they will be passed on to Hlophe, who will have ten days in which to respond.
The judges will then be given his response — they will have five days to reply.
”Thereafter the commission will meet on July 5 2008 to consider whether the material thus obtained discloses a prima facie case of gross misconduct,” the media statement said.
If it continues with the case, the commission will also have to advise President Thabo Mbeki whether Hlophe should be suspended pending the finalisation of the procedure.
None of the justices who attended Friday’s meeting wanted to comment on the issue.
The commission also did not give more information about the allegation made against Hlophe. — Sapa