Judicial Service (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (No. 4)
Judicial Service staff facing disciplinary charges may now be represented by their recognised staff association, on the same footing as a legal representative.
The Judicial Service Commission, with the concurrence of the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, has amended the Judicial Service Regulations, 2015 by inserting a new section 47A on the involvement of recognised associations and organisations in disciplinary proceedings.
A member facing disciplinary charges may notify a recognised association or organisation established under section 13 of the Judicial Service Act of the pending proceedings, and may ask that body to represent them.
Where representation is requested, section 48 of the regulations applies to the chosen representative as if they were the member's legal representative under section 48(1)(b) — so the association's representative gets the same standing, rights of audience and obligations in the hearing that a lawyer would have.
The change matters to judicial service staff — clerks, interpreters, messengers and other employees of the Commission — who may not be able to afford a lawyer but belong to a recognised staff association.
What changed
- A member facing disciplinary charges may notify their recognised association of the proceedings
- The member may request representation by that association or organisation
- The association's representative has the same standing as a legal representative under section 48
Who this affects
- Judicial Service Commission employees facing discipline
- Recognised judicial service staff associations
- Disciplinary authorities within the Commission
- Legal practitioners representing court staff
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.