Spare a thought for John Hlophe

[Dave A]

Judge President John Hlophe appears before the JSC tomorrow in his bid to become a Consitutional Court judge. If these two stories, How will Hlophe answer? and Fit to judge? are anything to go by, he could be in for a testing time.

But then so is the JSC. I think their conduct is going to enjoy a fair amount of scrutiny too.

Who'd want to be any of them tomorrow.

[Dave A]

Oh well. Hlophe didn't make it to the short list.

Congratulations to the seven that did

Does that restore some faith in the JSC?

[Marq]

I think a judge, and especially a high court/constitutional one should be well above the waterline when it comes to any funny doings and screwings. Mr Hlophe appears to have a fair spread of dubious doings and been in the firing line a few too many times (like once is more than enough nut I do not know the tally here). For the justice system to seem to be floundering on these weighty issues shows undercurrents, politics, uncertainty and certainly a system that becomes questionable. At a time where politics is taking its toll on all fronts, I think he should do the graceful thing and resign from all senior positions, practice law properly and then gain the respect that he appears to have lost.

I trust the new judges when appointed, are squeaky clean and do the right thing at the top there for us all.