Judiciary must be accountable

FOR two weeks now, the NT News has detailed Alice Springs Judge Greg Borchers’ history of unprofessional and improper conduct

FOR two weeks now, the NT News has detailed Alice Springs Judge Greg Borchers’ history of unprofessional and improper conduct.

Mr Borchers is a highly paid office-holder with significant power, whose conduct more than justifies the scrutiny it has received.

His boss, Chief Judge Dr John Lowndes, is in charge of an institution now in the throes of a reputational crisis he could have avoided.

Had they not attempted to keep Mr Borchers’ conduct a secret – or taken the opportunity to answer the legitimate questions about his conduct sent to them over the past fortnight – we would not be left wondering whether the court regards itself as above public scrutiny.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Grant’s comments and actions go some way to cleaning up this mess.

Chief Justice Grant’s speech to a gathering of lawyers and judges on Thursday did not shy away from the serious issue of Mr Borchers’ courtroom conduct.

By contrast, the only substantial response from Dr Lowndes on this issue has been a note threatening legal action against the NT News. Attorney-General Natasha Fyles still has serious questions to answer over her handling of this mess.

As Ms Fyles parrots the importance of the separation of powers, let’s not forget Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s use of parliamentary privilege in 2014 to blast the CLP for their handling of allegations of misconduct levelled at former magistrate Peter Maley.

Mr Gunner that day said: “The NT News is skewering you. It is death by a thousand cuts ... what are you hiding?”

The NT News will continue to hold the judiciary and parliamentarians accountable.