EMPHASIS ON GROUNDS OF JUDGMENT FOR PROMOTION OF JUDGES, SAYS CJ

PUTRAJAYA, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC)
places emphasis on the grounds of judgment as a prerequisite in deciding the
promotion of judges, Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi said Wednesday.

Zaki, who is also the JAC chairman, said that apart from the grounds of
judgment, the statistical disposals of court cases of the judges would also be
considered.

"Promotions are based on merit and performance, and not mere seniority," he
said at the swearing-in of four High Court judges who were elevated as Court of
Appeal judges and nine judicial commissioners who were confirmed as High Court
judges.

Zaki said the JAC members would request a candidate's grounds of judgment
from time to time.

In assessing judges for promotion, the commission would also listen to
comments from the Bar on their temperament and also their behaviour outside
court.

At the ceremony, Wahab Patail, 61, who is the elder brother of
Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, Clement Allan Skinner, 53, Mohamed Apandi
Ali, 60, and Zaharah Ibrahim, 58, were sworn-in as Court of Appeal judges.

The nine judicial commissioners were Mariana Yahya, Dr Badariah
Sahamid, Azman Abdullah, Mohd Yazid Mustafa, Zainal Azman Abdul Aziz, Yew Jen
Kie, Ahmadi Asnawi, Zamani Abdul Rahim and Vernon Ong Lam Kiat.

Zaki said that in evaluating judges for promotion, comments and views of
the JAC members, who are also serving judges, were important because they knew
the judges better than anyone else.

He also said that the judiciary's image had improved by leaps and bounds in
the past one year.

The attitudes of judges, magistrates and court staff towards lawyers and
those attending court, had also improved tremendously.

However, the judiciary continued to be firm on enforcement of the law and
strictly following policies which were implemented, he said.

"Those who are unhappy with any decision always have an avenue of appeal,"
he said.

He said judges were expected not only to be working during office hours but
also after, and during some weekends when necessary.

Zaki also spoke about the concern over the rising appeals pending at the
Court of Appeal, which he said, had shot up as a result of the rapid rate of
disposal by the High Court.
-- BERNAMA