Journalist
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has recommended that Eastern Cape High Court judge Belinda Hartle be suspended pending a Judicial Conduct Tribunal probe of a misconduct complaint, in which she was accused of swearing a court official.
The tribunal will investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Hartle. A gross misconduct finding could lead to an impeachment process. If impeached, the judge could lose her lifetime salary benefit if found guilty of gross misconduct.
The president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has the power to suspend judges based on JSC advice. The JSC has decided to make the recommendation for suspension and requested chief justice Mandisa Maya to appoint a tribunal to investigate the complaint against Hartle.
“After considering the submissions of the parties, the commission resolved that it is desirable that judge Hartle be suspended from office in terms of section 177(3) of the constitution, with the condition that she is allowed to finalise her partly heard matters and reserved judgments during the period of her suspension,” the JSC said in a statement.
