The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) on Thursday released the shortlist of candidates to be interviewed for the Constitutional Court seat due to be vacated by Judge Tholakele Madala.
Judges Edwin Cameron, Nigel Willis and Shenaz Meer have again been shortlisted.
All three were interviewed in Cape Town during the last round of applications for the job, which saw the JSC fail to submit the required number of four potential candidates to President Kgalema Motlanthe.
The JSC found itself with only four candidates after two other shortlisted judges, Chris Jafta and Franklin Kroon, pulled out at the last minute. The Mail & Guardian reported at the time that the two had been asked to step down, as they were both acting at the Constitutional Court when Cape Judge President John Hlophe allegedly tried to improperly influence the court in a matter involving ANC president Jacob Zuma.
The JSC had been strongly divided about the fourth shortlisted candidate, Northern Cape Judge President Frans Kgomo. Shortly before the hearings Kgomo, who is not on the shortlist this time, had been accused of bias.
Pretoria High Court Judge Eberhard Bertelsmann, who on the last occasion withdrew his application a week before the hearings, is on the latest shortlist.
Bertelsmann recently heard the African National Congress’s urgent application to stop the Congress of the People from using the name ‘South African National Congress or Conventionâ€.
Also on the shortlist is Durban High Court judge Leona Theron, who became a judge at the tender age of 32.
The JSC will hold interviews on December 12 at OR Tambo International Hotel.