The South Australian magistrate accused by five women of misconduct has appointed a senior counsel to defend him in front of a conduct panel, former Judicial Conduct Commissioner Ann Vanstone has said, while revealing the panel’s inquiry has been “contentious”.
The Magistrate subject to misconduct complaints by five women can now be named, after he was today suspended from office while South Australia’s first judicial conduct panel investigates his alleged behaviour.
A retired Supreme Court Judge, Court of Appeal president and deputy head of the Australian Medical Association have been appointed to the state’s first judicial conduct panel, which will investigate the conduct of a serving Magistrate accused of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.
The State Government is facing growing political and legal backlash against its attempt to tighten-up workers compensation guidelines, amid warnings the proposed changes could result in thousands of injured workers receiving lower payments.