Supreme Court Judges

							     PROTOCOL - SUPREME COURT JUDGES’ASSOCIATES


                        Adopted by the Judges - 11 February 1999
                         Amended by the Judges - 13 June 2000

It is noted that Schedule H of the Judges’ Entitlement Handbook deals with Associates and
that the Judges have adopted a duty statement for Associates. That duty statement is
attached.

1.     General Principles Governing Appointment

       1.1    In selecting a person for appointment as an associate effect must be given the
              general principles governing public employment such as appointment on
              merit, equal opportunity and the avoidance of nepotism.

       1.2    Save in exceptional circumstances (as, for example, for a brief period during a
              temporary vacancy in the office), the Associate selected by the Judge will be a
              law student or graduate in law and will not be a member of the Judge’ owns
              family.

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              Members of the Judge’ family are not disqualified from appointment as the
              Associate of another Judge. However, a Judge considering such an
              appointment should decide to make it only where it is demonstrable that the
              candidate is amply qualified, such as his or her being an honours graduate or
              on track for honours.

2.     Applications for the Position of Associate

       2.1    The Court Administrator, at least annually, will by letter to University Law
              Schools, by advertisement in a newspaper circulated throughout the State and
              on the Supreme Court website call generally for applications for the positions
              of Supreme Court Judges’Associates.

       2.2    Application forms and job descriptions for the position of associate will be
              available to enquirers from the Court Administrator.

       2.3    Applications should be submitted in writing either to the Court Administrator
              or to a particular Judge.

       2.4    The Court Administrator will register and acknowledge receipt of applications
              noting those which request appointment to a particular Judge or a willingness
              to work in a particular region and notify the relevant Judge or Judges of those
              applications.

       2.5    Applications forwarded to individual Judges may also be included in this
              central collection.
3.       Selection of an Associate

         3.1       Should a Judge consider it desirable having regard to the quantity of
                   applications received, the Court Administrator and a representative of the
                   Court (nominated by the Chief Justice) will make an initial assessment of the
                   applicants. That assessment may involve interviews.

         3.2       A prospective appointee will be interviewed by the Judge contemplating his or
                   her appointment. The Judge may elect to have another person, such as the
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                   Judge’ present associate, present at the interview.

         3.3       The Judge will notify the Court Administrator of the person to be
                   recommended to the Governor-in-Council for appointment as that Judge’        s
                   associate and the Court Administrator will notify the Attorney-General of that
                   recommendation.

4.       Duration of Appointment

         4.1       In the usual case appointments will be made for a term of one year which may
                   be extended if the Judge is satisfied with the performance of the associate.
                   Temporary appointments may be made for a period of less than three months
                   to cover an unforeseen vacancy.

         4.2       The appointment of an associate may be terminated by the
                   Governor-in-Council on the recommendation of the Judge. An associate’s
                   appointment may be terminated by the Governor-in-Council accepting the
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                   associate’ resignation or for other good reason.

5.                                           s
         Position of Associates during Judge’ Absence

         During absences on leave, a Judge should take responsible steps to ensure that the
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         Associate’ time at work is fully and efficiently occupied. As well as attending to the
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         continued running of the Judge’ chambers, a plan should be in place. The plan will
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         require supervision of the Associate’ work by another willing Judge designated for
         the purpose by the absent Judge (for example, in the Trial Division, the Senior Judge
         Administrator). It could allow for the Associate to work at times as an Associate in
         the District Court, or on designated research including the Library, or other projects
         and the like.

6.       Financial Matters

         6.1       Associates must not use frequent flyer points, if any, accruing them for official
                   travel for private purposes. They may not claim points for official travel. If
                   any points are nevertheless credited to them for official travel, they may not
                   use them for private purposes.

         6.2       Associates will not use or accept Government credit cards.



Protocol Supreme Court Judges’ Associates          2
Adopted by the Judges – 11 February 1999
Amended by the Judges – 13 June 2000
Protocol Supreme Court Judges’ Associates   3
Adopted by the Judges – 11 February 1999
Amended by the Judges – 13 June 2000